Page 13 of Going Down Smooth: Part Two

Adjusting the strap on her sling, she rolls her neck, indicating discomfort as it rubs her skin, then glares at me. “I’m perfectly capable of speaking, thank you very much.” I arch a brow, wanting to disagree, but she continues, slashing her uninjured hand through the air to cut me off. “Yes, I might sound like I’ve been smoking a pack a day for the last five years but at least I can speak,” she says with so much sass that I want to put her over my knee. Well, that’s an image.I picture it and quickly store the salacious thoughts away for later. It’s good to see her in good spirits, even though the past few days have been tough for us all.

Mercy begins to cough into her hand, breaking me from my thoughts. Focus, Trey. I immediately rush to the side of our bed for water. Mercy is the worst patient, she’s so stubborn and determined to pretend she didn’t get out of the hospital three days ago.

“And this is exactly what I meant, songbird. You’re chirping a bit too much too soon,” I say in an I told you so tone that only gets me a scathing look in return.

I sit on the side of the bed and shift round, holding the straw toward her lips and she leans in to drink until she has her fill. She clears her throat and sighs. “Seriously baby, please, use the bell. Don’t strain your voice if you don’t have to. You know this, Mercy.” I tsk, trying not to sound like a mother hen, but damn, one of us needs to fuss. Lox, Knight, and Nate give in every time. She’s been home three days and she’s been out for walks around the cabin, on the computer in her newly created office to attempt to deal with her business, and generally doing exactly what the doctors told her not to.

Sensing my growing frustration, she grabs my suspenders with her good hand and pulls me down for a kiss. My lips part, welcoming the connection. We both groan, mouths chasing one another as we kiss like two hopeless, love starved creatures. Desperation is all I feel with every lick of her tongue inside my mouth, and I reply in kind with the same pent up well of emotion.

Is it ridiculous to miss someone even when they are right beside you? Yes, I think so, answering my own question. I miss my songbird. Most of all her voice, commanding and seductive, wrapped up in a warm sultry blanket, the sound of her voice gives me delicious chills, it always has. I miss the way she sings and hums throughout the house, like a songbird, always happy and cheerful, delighting in life as a whole. It’s all the little things, like her early morning piano playing when she thinks we are all asleep. It had become something I looked forward to waking up to.

Damn Christopher. Damn him for taking away our peace. Damn him for trying to take away my heart, my one good thing. She’s my favorite music note, my clef, because Mercy ultimately is my key. She sets the pace and tone for my life’s symphony, and without her I’m sheet music with no composition.

I pull away breathless, not hesitating to nose my way down her neck until my lips skim across my mate mark between her neck and shoulder. Mercy shudders, her scent thickening the air, sweet syrupy peaches, and my cock twitches in response. She scoots her body closer, her hard nipples jutting through her pajama top. The press of her eager body against mine, wanting me just as badly as I want her, instinctively makes my hind brain go into hyper drive. I lose the cup, placing it on the nightstand, before reaching around to grab the back of Mercy’s neck. My fingers dig into soft, delicate skin, pulling her even closer. Her lips are swollen, pupils blown, her hair wild and messy as it tangles within my grip.

“Trey,” Mercy whimpers in my hold, my name a plea on her lips.Perfection.I don’t think, I just react, our lips crashing together once more in an almost feral kiss. I deepen my exploration of her mouth, bending over her, my knee braced on the bed, stopping me from draping my body over hers. I grip her breast in my other hand, pinching her hardened peak, humming in approval as she moans in response.

I want to take back what’s mine, remind her body of my touch, erasing the damage done to her. I want to lose myself in her, an animalistic need to claim her all over again. A possessive growl crawls up my throat, and then reality hits like a bucket of ice water being tossed over my head. I immediately pull away. Leaving us both panting and bereft of each other. Shaking my head against the onslaught of spiraling thoughts, I surprise myself. I’m not usually so aggressive, but the past few days have made me edgy. A part of me was left in pieces after almost losing Mercy; my soul, left stripped on the ground. I need Mercy, I need her to put me back together again.

“Are you trying to distract me, songbird,” I tease, mentally shifting gears, my voice deep and raspy as I move to stand, but her arm shooting out stops me.

“Is it working?” she tries to say playfully, like me, she’s trying to compose herself, but I see nothing but a burning need in her eyes. We are both fighting ourselves, knowing we shouldn’t take things too far. She is still injured, and we can’t act on the fire burning beneath our skin. I will never hurt her, regardless of the heady scent of her slick and my rock-hard dick in my pants. Pull it together, Trey.

Steeling my spine, I smile slowly and shake my head. “No. Not at all, songbird.” I smirk. “Now, what can I get you? You called me up here for a reason.” I step further away from the bed, adjusting my glasses as I focus on what’s important. My need to nurture her overrides my need to bend her over the bed and plunge my cock into her sweet-smelling pussy until she screams for my knot. Shit, wrong fucking thoughts, Trey.

“Are you hungry?” I ask, turning around in a circle searching the room for tasks to busy my hands. I find myself picking up discarded clothes from the floor and tossing them into the laundry hamper on the other side of the room. Apparently Lox has decided he doesn’t know how to use one.

“Yes, but that’s not—”

“Mercy,” I groan out, my sexual frustration overwhelms me. “Don’t finish that sentence.”

“I’m not the one with the dirty mind, Trey.” She chuckles. “If you had let me finish the sentence, I would have said, ‘Yes, but that’s not why I called you up here’.”

I pause, my mouth falls open in mock shock as I grab my chest in surprise. Yeah, I guess I am the one with the dirty mind and am no longer going to hide it as I adjust my erection in my pants, making her laugh harder.

“Laugh it up, songbird. It’s only going to make our reunion all the sweeter. Give me something to look forward to.” I raise my eyebrows suggestively and her cheeks flush slightly. She’s so fucking beautiful.

“Where is everyone?” She quickly changes the subject as she struggles against the mound of pillows attempting to get comfortable. Stubborn woman, just ask for help.Before I answer, I cross over to her, avoiding her swatting hand until she relents and lets me help adjust her body to prop against the headboard so she’s sitting upright. I pull the blanket over her body and lay the injured arm up on a pillow. She sighs in relief, and I can’t help leaning in and kissing her temple.

“Thank you, Trey. I love you,” she says, her face sobering. “I hate feeling helpless. I’m anxious and filled with nervous energy. I know being a brat is not the most ideal of behaviors, I’m sorry.” She flops her good arm up and down impotently. “I need to be working, to do something to keep my mind focused.”

I peck her lips quickly. “I love you too, songbird.” I step away and brush her face with the pad of my thumb. “I get it. You’re not one to sit idle.” I nod. “Which is why you have a list of visitors coming your way today.” She widens her eyes in surprise, and I can’t help but smile at the little wiggle-wiggle dance she does at this news. “But first, back to your first question. Nate is up in the loft working on your nest, being all Mr. DIY architect supreme. Lox and Knight are at M. Bar, doing business. I, on the other hand, am at your service, Miss Smooth.” I bow, making her smile. “So, let me get you breakfast. Then, I will help you shower and dress before Freeya arrives. Also, Knight called and informed me that the police will be stopping by as well,” I say, my own face going serious at the mention of the police.

“The police?” Mercy’s eyes narrow in suspicion. We’ve managed to keep them from questioning her so far, but we knew eventually that they would want an account of what happened last week.

“It was only a matter of time before they came around for a statement, Mercy. I am sure Freeya will catch you up on the news about the Distillery, but the building was still smoldering as of two days ago. This is a major incident, nationally newsworthy and the world has yet to hear what you have to say. There is pressure on all sides—”

She fidgets, I can feel her panic rise through our bond. “I can’t. . .what if. . .what if they can’t be trusted? What if my father has crooked cops working for him? What if this is part of his plan? I can’t tell them my sister lured me there. What if they try to arrest Faith? She is just as much a victim as me. Will they even believe me if I say it was my own fucking family? I mean, I wouldn’t call those pricks family, but semantics.” She shrugs helplessly, then her head drops into her hand, and she begins to cough again. I grab her cup and fill it up with water. She drinks deeply, then takes a moment to clear out the cobwebs in her vocal cords. Then she looks up at me, her face pained, eyes watering, and lips pursed. “What if they try to say this was all my fault?” Her words all rush out in a frantic flurry, her brain dumping all her worries and fears out in one breath.

“Hey, hey. Why would they believe it was your fault, songbird? You were attacked, barricaded inside, and left for dead. I get you don’t want them to question Faith, but her Alphas, those assholes are going to be held accountable.” I try to keep my anger in check, taking the cup away, I place it back on the nightstand. I sit facing her, perched on the edge of the bed, and take her hand. “I want to reassure you; we are here, and we will back you, baby. You don’t need to worry, let us do that for you. We are all having trust issues at the moment, but this is protocol, you have to give them a statement.” I kiss her hand and blow out a long breath.

“I just wish I felt confident in the law enforcement in the town to do the right thing.” She sighs. It’s obvious Christopher has a long reach.

“Can I tell you something you don’t know?” I ask, attempting to reassure her and put her mind at ease.

She nods her head. “Yes, I will take all the reassurance I can get.”

“What if I told you that one of your sister’s Alphas is a detective?” Her mouth falls open in disbelief. I can almost see the wheels turning in the wrong direction. I laugh and continue.

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