Page 25 of Ruthlessly Mated
He bites me lightly on the back of the neck, a little warning.
“I’m not tired. I need to burn some energy off.”
He slides a hand down my back and cups my ass, tapping it lightly. Warning me, or maybe promising me something. I think I might like it either way. I feel heat starting to well between my thighs. I’m getting turned on. Arguing with Conroy does that. So does being picked up and manhandled by Damon.
“I’m going to get up, and you’re going to let me,” I tell him.
He responds by sliding that hand up and then down into my pants, his fingers sliding between my legs from behind to trace along my slit. I make a little hissing sound, because it’s sore. I was a virgin yesterday. Today, my pussy is still trying to recover from the effects of being taken roughly.
He taps me lightly, warningly, then slides his hand out again and snugs my underwear tight between my legs. It is a very effective warning. If I keep disobeying him, he’s going to make my pussy hurt.
I don’t think he actually wants to do that, but who knows, given he doesn’t say anything.
“I don’t want to sleep,” I complain. “I’m just not ready. Today was fucked up. I smushed a vampire. An ancient one. One who is going to reconstitute and fucking kill me, you know? This isn’t over. Not by a long shot. I didn’t end the problem, I just putmyself even more on his radar, and if you can’t tell, I was already very much on his radar.”
He pats my bottom gently and rubs it in slow circles that I think are supposed to be soothing. They are also actually soothing. I feel very contained by Damon. Very kept. The fact that he doesn’t speak actually makes me feel more like talking.
“So he’s going to try to kill me, and the rest of you because you’re all targets now. Anybody close to me is in danger. If anything, you should let me go. We should get to the next big population center and you should go your ways and I should go mine. It’s the only way to ensure your safety.”
Damon turns me over to face him. His lips brush my cheek in a little kiss, followed by a firm head shake. No. He’s not going anywhere. And neither are the others. They’re too possessive. Too stupidly male.
I don’t know when I fall asleep. It must be at some point in declaring that I am absolutely not tired and do not need sleep. All I know is that when morning comes, I am still wrapped in Damon’s arms. One of his limbs is snug around my hips, and the second I move he opens his eyes.
“I’m not running away,” I say. “I just need to pee.”
Peeing in the desert always feels a bit like doing a public service. There’s some unexpected H2O for whatever little creatures or plants are around. Sure, it’s rich in nitrates, but what are you going to do. That’s a bonus if you’re a plant.
There’s something very beautiful and freeing in this moment. The quiet of the morning, the contentment of knowing I have absolutely gotten away with many of my crimes, and am likely toget away with many more yet to come. The sun is rising, casting a golden glow over the rust bucket we’re driving to freedom.
Conroy and Tailor spent the night next to the fire. My stomach is growling. I didn’t get anything to eat last night. The truck might have something to eat inside it. I’m pretty sure I asked for it to be stocked with a few little supplies. The guy who sold it told me to go fuck myself, but that doesn’t always mean that he didn’t do it.
Before I can head back to the truck, Conroy is on me. He moves silently sometimes, surprising for someone as big and burly as him.
“Morning,” Conroy says. “I wanted to talk to you before the others got up.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah. I appreciate you saving my life. I appreciate you saving Tailor’s even more. But don’t think that means you get away with things now. If anything, it’s going to make me even more strict with you, you understand? You’re not going to get away with anything on my watch. And yes, that’s probably going to mean you get a sore ass and a sore pussy and sore thighs…”
“Thighs!” I exclaim.
He smirks a little, as if that was designed to get a rise out of me.
“I’m just giving you a warning. I’m still here. Still looking out for you, and that…” He leans down, making eye contact with me in a way that makes my insides quiver. “Means that you are going to be taking my cock like a good little girl. Understand?”
“Fuck off,” I say.
“I thought so. You’re warned. That’s fair. What happens next is on you.”
I hate that the little conversation we just had made me feel safer. I wish I meant the ‘fuck off’ more. I want to stay in control, two steps ahead. I want to set the agenda. So I change the subject.
“Today I’m driving to Rock City. No vampires allowed. That was supposed to be my first stop. It’s a good place to refuel and we won’t be tracked there because of the no vampires.”
“No shifters either.”
“Well, they can tell vamps because they sparkle in the sunlight. But they can’t tell shifters unless they see us turning into wolves.”
“They shoot on sight.”
