Page 53 of Revenant

“I’m sorry,” Gunner says in a shamed whisper, the words torn from deep within his soul. “Please don’t be afraid of me.” He spreads his hands, gazing down at them in horror. “I don’t know what happened.”

His voice is so lost that my heart breaks. As much as I don’t want to leave the comfort of Hicks’ arms, I force myself to stand. As I stride toward him, Gunner curls into himself, cowering in the corner. “Don’t come any closer. Please. Stay back.”

The backs of my eyes burn at seeing the big, indomitable man brought low at the thought of hurting me. Refusing to allow him to second-guess himself, I march right up to him, doing my best to ignore the way he flinches at my nearness or the way his shoulders hunch like a beaten animal.

I poke him hard in the chest, and a surprised grunt leaves him. He looks at me from the corner of his eyes, but I refuse to let him hide. “You told me being different made me special. You told me that I would never hurt you. Was that all bullshit?”

A scowl darkens his face, and he turns to glare down at me. “No, of course not.”

“Oh, so you’re saying you’re better than me? That, because you have abilities now, you’re a danger to me and others? What utter nonsense.” I plant my hands on my hips and glare up at him, matching his expression with the same amount of ferocity. “You can’t have it both ways.”

I shuffle forward, ignoring the way he stiffens. He’s practically crawling up the wall to maintain his distance, but I don’t stop until I’m pressed against him from head to toe. A hint of grease still lingers on his skin, and a touch of body wash and all man fills my senses.

“Princess. Please.” A muscle bunches in his jaw, and his hands are clenched so tightly that they tremble. While part of me hurts for him, I refuse to allow him to give up on us without a fight, not when I just got him back. I tilt my head back, a confident smirk curling my lips, and I run my hands up his chest, shivering at the cut angles of his muscles under my fingertips.

“I like it when you beg, big man.” Before he can protest, I lean forward and bite his pec hard. His cock jumps at the contact, pressing against my stomach as it springs to life. One of my hands skims over his shoulder, and I lightly scratch my nails along the back of his neck, liking the thought of having my mark on him.

His hands drop to my hips, clutching me close, and I’m uncertain if he wants to push me away or keep me from escaping. When I wiggle closer, a tiny growl rumbles in his chest, and he quivers in an effort to remain still, like he’s afraid he might attack me if he loses control.

I have no such concern. My nipples harden at the delicious sound coming from him, and my panties are instantly soaked. It’s hard not to squirm against him in a silent demand that he touch me where I need him most. I reluctantly stop nibbling at his chest, loving the shudder that shakes his big form, then I tilt my head back so he can see the truth in my eyes.

“The last thing I feel when I look at you is fear.” My voice is husky with want, and my nipples are hard and achy, desperate to feel his hands on them.Soon, I promise myself.When we get out of here.“It’s like you said—I don’t think it’s possible for you to hurt me. The opposite, in fact. You are my biggest protector. Whatever they injected you with is changing your body to help you do that.”

Seconds pass, and my heart falls when he remains rigid in my arms. Then his expression softens ever so slightly, his gray eyes darkening to blue, and the hands on my hips slide possessively around my waist. “You think so?”

At his gruff question, I melt against him and nod. “I do.”

I rub my cheek against his chest, then reluctantly pull back. He releases me without protest, and I grab his hand and drag him toward the others. Whatever is happening, it’s much too lateto stop it. While I fear what the serum will ultimately do to them, maybe I can keep it from killing them if I act fast enough.

“Sit on the floor in a circle,” I order the guys, then kick off my shoes and join them. Jameson is the first to obey, his legs folding underneath him as he drops to the ground, and he leans against me with a tiny sigh.

Jaceson shrugs and settles himself next to his brother. Ellis follows next, his brown eyes full of questions. Gunner grunts as he lowers himself to the floor, his big body taking nearly a third of the circle. Hicks rises from his spot on the bed before stepping toward me, the two of us the only ones still standing.

Never taking his eyes off me, he doesn’t stop until he comes to a rest at my side. His expression is stern, his version of resting bitch face. He uses it to keep others from getting close, keep them from reading his thoughts. It’s a lonely way to live.

He searches my face in silent query, then his lips tighten, and he lowers himself to the floor. I quickly follow until we’re sitting in a loose circle. After surveying them, I wring my hands, then blow out a breath and rest them on my knees.

“As much as I want to take my time, the serum is moving too fast. I’m worried about what will happen if I wait longer.” I peer at each of the guys, my insides a toxic mess at all the things that could go wrong. I’m nibbling on my bottom lip when Jameson leans against my shoulder, his pale blue eyes earnest.

“What do you need us to do?” There is no doubt or hesitation in his expression. His trust warms my chest…and terrifies the fuck out of me.

Determined not to lose them because of stupid fear, I straighten my spine. “Everyone join hands.”

I hold out both of mine, and the guys don’t hesitate to follow suit. Jameson threads his fingers with mine, a contented sigh escaping him, and his thumb brushes back and forth over the pulse in my wrist. Hicks’ grip is firm, his skin surprisinglycalloused, and he places our joint hands on his knee, like he’s claiming possession of it. His touch flusters me, but it also sends a surge of much needed confidence through my veins.

Their trust is both thrilling and daunting at the same time.

I can’t fuck this up.

Rolling back my shoulders, I take a bracing breath, then my eyes flutter shut. I wished I’d had the foresight to scan the other patients at the facility so I would know what to expect. My stomach churns at the thought of experimenting on the guys. Unfortunately, we don’t have the time to wait. The more I delay, the more damage they will sustain.

I embrace the chill. Only I don’t draw power from the afterlife, like expected. Instead, ice crackles along my veins where it lays dormant, spreading through my whole body in seconds. Frost creeps over my organs, and I take a bracing breath when it feels like my insides are slowly being flash-frozen.

My grip on Hicks and Jameson tightens, and I wait for pain to riddle my body. Only it never comes. It’s like the afterlife is now living inside me. The sensation is slightly uncomfortable, and the calming sensation of falling snow fills my head in encouragement, my powers eagerly awaiting my command.

Deciding to worry about what that means later, I focus on the guys.

They are the priority.

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