Page 39 of Power Twist

I nod. “I don't know why it always tastes better when it's meant for something special, not just an everyday treat. Like those Reese’s pumpkins around Halloween. Yum. And if you waited until the day after the holiday, you got the stuff on sale, so double bonus.” I pick up the barely touched Snickers and take a small bite. “But not Peeps. That shit is disgusting.”

“Agreed. If I wanted a marshmallow, I'd buy a big fucking marshmallow, not one that tastes stale.”

“Right!” I agree with excitement. “Maybe I'll misuse my new power and ban those from the US. I can do that, right?” My cheeks begin to ache from the wide smile that seems to keep growing.

“Pretty sure people would question it, but sure, you could try. I'd back you.”

“Benson,” T calls out, drawing our attention. “I need your thoughts on something.”

Trey's dark hair falls forward, brushing across his forehead as he nods. With a quick glance to me, he offers a smile and small wave. “Duty calls, Mess. Eat that, and then try to get some sleep. It will be a long night.”

Watching him shift across the aisle to where T and the others sit, I admire his ass in those dark gray slacks. Wonder if I could convince him to sneak back into the bedroom with me for a quickie. I mean, I did shower, so there’s that, and as hell-bent as he is on me relaxing, that’s a surefire way to calm me down. It could even be one of those mostly clothed fuck sessions where only the needed areas are exposed.

Like he can feel my heated stare—or hell, maybe hear my thoughts—Trey peeks over his shoulder. I tear my gaze from his round ass as a knowing smirk pulls at his lips, his tongue sliding out to swipe along the full lower one. With an exaggerated wink, he turns back to the guys, jumping right back into the conversation.

Wetness pools between my legs and a throb beats with its own pulse between my thighs. I squeeze them together, hoping to quell the building ache. Fuck, this guy turns me on with a single wink. How does that even happen? I'm in such trouble with Trouble. No doubt about it.

I press a button, lowering the back of the chair nearly flat, and curl on my side.

The second my mind quiets, the magnitude of what Trey just did for me sets in.

Somehow, with my pulse raging, my mind a mess, and tension near the snapping point, that man calmed me down, took my mind off Taeler being in danger, and got me to eat all in the process of ten minutes. The leather groans as I shift to my other side to face the men. Tucking my hands beneath my cheeks, I relax my lids and attempt to sleep like he suggested.

Sleep doesn’t come, but the erotic fantasies I conjure are just as distracting.

* * *

“Benson,you're in the back with Randi,” T shouts as we all stomp down the plane's stairs. Though I’m not sure why he’s telling themagain. I overheard them go over the lineup and plan more than a few times the last thirty minutes of the flight. “You three in the Suburban behind us, and you two in front.” No idea who he's talking to, but echoes of “Yes, sir” make it over the low whirling of the plane's slowing engines.

A gentle hand presses against my lower back, directing me toward the middle Suburban of the three. Glancing up, I grimace in embarrassment. “Listen, T. I’m sorry about being snippy earlier. I—”

He holds up his free hand, halting my apology. “Not needed. We were both tense. I allowed the stress to get the better of me, and I shouldn't have said what I said. Friends?”

“Friends,” I say with a big-ass smile. At one time T was adamant that we weren't friends, just business. Seems I’m growing on the big guy. “You know, even though I'm already sore as hell and got my ass kicked more times than I can count, I really liked Sarah.”

T's stone-cold features break protocol with an almost smile pulling at the corners of his lips. “She's one amazing woman. We'll work on getting you strong when we get back, then pick the self-defense lessons back up after. I don't like you not knowing how to defend yourself.”

“I haven't been able to, ever. Why does it bother you now?”

He shakes his head, the last bits of the fading sunset reflecting off his dark bald head. “I saw just how terrible you really are earlier.” Reaching forward, he palms the door handle and yanks it open. “I didn’t realize you were that bad.”

“Eh, I have you guys now,” I say, giving his shoulder a quick comforting pat as I crawl into the SUV. “Now stop stalling. Let's go get Tae.”

Once I'm situated inside the dark interior, the door slams shut. Three other doors jerk open, the outside light pouring inside. Glancing over to the seat beside me, I offer Trey a tight smile as he adjusts the massive gun strapped to his chest.

“Is that really needed?”

“Yes,” all three agents respond in unison.

I roll my eyes in exasperation and lean against the door to stare out the window at the glorious fading Texas sunset. Soon we're speeding from the small private airport headed toward downtown Austin, where Taeler is currently hiding out. The earlier nerves and anxiety inundate my thoughts once again.

What if we don't get there in time? What if whoever was following her is still around? How can I do this to Taeler? How can I be so selfish?

The twenty-minute drive flies by, and soon we're weaving through the downtown streets making our way toward Hoodwink. I track every building, each street, mesmerized by all that’s changed in the past two decades and the few things that are still exactly the same as when I left this town. Ugh, fuck I'm old. How has it been that long since I was in undergrad?

“The fuck?”

T's confused tone pulls my attention from the window to where he sits tense in the driver seat. Grem is turned in the front passenger seat, his focus not on me but out the back window. Shifting, I ease the seat belt harness a little to follow his laser stare. My brows draw close, eyes narrow, attempting to see what they see.

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