Page 55 of Whispers and Warriors
As if that was all she needed, Emma shattered, her body convulsing as wave after wave of ecstasy crashed over her. Chris followed mere seconds later, buried to the hilt as he pulsed deep inside her. Trembling and spent, Emma barely registered Chris carrying her back to the bed, his gentle hands a stark contrast to the primal passion of moments before.
“You still with us?” Bash’s voice cut through the haze, equal parts amused and concerned. “We can stop if it’s too much. It has been a while...”
Emma’s eyes snapped open, fixing Bash with a heated glare. “Don’t you dare,” she growled, yanking him closer. “If you don’t fuck me right now, Bash, I swear to God I’ll never forgive you.”
Bash chuckled, the sound rich and warm as he pressed his forehead to hers. “Bossy little thing, aren’t you? Alright then, sweetheart. Let’s see if I can’t jog your memory a bit. Remind you of the first time you came to me, all fire and need...”
His words sent a shiver down Emma’s spine, anticipation coiling tight in her belly. In a world gone mad, this— the love, the passion, the unbreakable ties that bound them together—was the only thing that made sense anymore. And as Bash’s hands began to roam her body, igniting sparks beneath her skin, Emma knew she’d gladly burn in the flames of their desire, again and again, until the end of time.
Bash sat on the edge of the bed, tugging Emma down until she was nestled in his lap, her back flush against his chest. His rough hands skimmed along her sides, calluses scraping deliciously against her sensitive skin as he guided her hips, positioning her just so. Emma’s breath caught in her throat as she felt the hard press of his erection against her entrance, the heat of him searing her to the core.
“That’s it, Em,” Bash murmured, nipping at the shell of her ear. “Just relax and let me take care of you.”
With a slow, deliberate roll of his hips, he pushed inside her, stretching and filling her inch by delicious inch. Emma’s head fell back against his shoulder, a low moan escaping her parted lips as her body yielded to his, welcoming the intrusion with eager abandon.
Bash’s hands roamed higher, cupping the soft weight of her breasts as he began to move, his thrusts deep and measured. He plucked at her nipples, rolling the sensitive buds between his fingers until they pebbled under his touch, sending jolts of pleasure straight to Emma’s core. His lips found the curve of her neck, teeth scraping against her pulse point as he marked her, claiming her as his own.
Lost in a haze of sensation, Emma rocked against him, meeting each thrust with a roll of her hips. The world narrowed to the points where their bodies joined, the slick slide of skin against skin, the ragged sound of their mingled breaths. Nothing else mattered - not the dangers that lurked beyond the walls, not the uncertain future that stretched before them. In this moment, they were alive, and they were together, and that was enough.
Bash’s pace quickened, his hands tightening on her hips as he drove into her with increasing urgency. Emma could feel the tension coiling within her, the pleasure building to an almost unbearable crescendo. Her entire body was on fire, every nerve ending alight with sensation as she teetered on the brink of release.
“Let go, Emma,” Bash growled, his voice rough with need. “I’ve got you. Always.”
And with those words, Emma shattered, a scream tearing from her throat as her orgasm crashed over her in wave after wave of searing ecstasy. Bash followed her over the edge a heartbeat later, his hips bucking erratically as he spilled himself deep inside her, her name a reverent prayer on his lips.
Boneless and sated, Emma sagged back against Bash’s chest, her heart thundering in her ears. His arms came around her, holding her close as they both struggled to catch their breath, basking in the afterglow of their shared pleasure. In the silence that followed, Emma felt a profound sense of peace settle over her, a bone-deep certainty that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, united by the unbreakable bonds of love and sacrifice.
This was a reminder that even in the midst of chaos and despair, beauty and joy could still be found, if only one had the courage to reach for it. And she was never going to let her demons stop her from reaching this.
Gently, Bash lifted Emma from his lap and settled her onto the bed, brushing a tender kiss across her sweat-dampened brow. She gazed up at her men, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, her heart so full of love and gratitude that she feared it might burst.
“I needed that,” she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. “I needed to feel in control, to know that I could still choose, still direct my own fate, after what almost happened during the storm.”
Chris knelt beside the bed, taking her hand in his and pressing a fervent kiss to her palm. “You will always have control with us, Emma,” he vowed, his eyes blazing with fierce devotion. “We are yours, body and soul, and we will never take that choice from you.”
Liam, Alex, and William gathered around her, their expressions soft with understanding and love. “You are the center of our world, Emma,” William murmured, his fingers ghosting along the curve of her cheek. “Your strength, your courage, your heart—they guide us, inspire us, give us a reason to keep fighting, even when all seems lost.”
“We love you,” Alex said simply, his voice rough with emotion. “And we will always stand by your side, no matter what dangers we may face.”
Bash leaned in, resting his forehead against hers, his breath warm against her skin. “You are our light in the darkness, Emma,” he rasped, his words weighted with the depth of his feelings. “Our hope, our future, our everything. Never doubt that.”
TWENTY-ONE
Bash saton the edge of the bed, his elbows resting on his knees as he focused on absolutely nothing at all. The adrenaline that had surged through him as he enjoyed his time with Emma began to flow away, replaced by a bone-deep exhaustion. He rolled his broad shoulders, trying to ease the tension that had settled there like an unwelcome guest.
It had barely been two weeks since hell on earth part two, and he was fucking tired.
He couldn’t sleep, but all he’d been able to find were his discarded pants in the tangle of clothes so he hadn’t left the room to explore.
A soft whine drew his attention, and he looked down to see Ranger padding over, his puppy-dog eyes in full effect and filled with an emotion Bash couldn’t make out. The black lab rested his head on Bash’s knee, offering silent comfort. Bash let his calloused hand found its way to Ranger’s soft fur, stroking absently as his thoughts wandered. If the dog cared his hand wasn’t supple, there were no complaints.
They had made it out alive, but at what cost? The image of Emma’s terrified face as he found that asshole trying to forcehimself on her filled his mind, and he clenched his jaw. He should have done more to protect her, to keep her safe from the horrors of this broken world. But wasn’t that the promise he had made to himself, to her, from the moment they met? To be her shield, her unwavering protector? Even when he hadn’t wanted anything to do with Emma he’d made that promise.
Bash’s gaze drifted around the cramped cabin of the ship, taking in the stark metal walls and the narrow bunk he sat upon. The dim light filtering through the small porthole cast a gentle glow, softening the harsh edges of their surroundings. It was a far cry from the chaos and destruction they had left behind at the but the silence was still almost eerie.
There was a fragile sense of peace, of respite from the relentless pursuit of those who sought to harm them. Bash knew it wouldn’t last—it never did. But for now, he allowed himself to breathe, to feel the steady rhythm of Ranger’s heartbeat beneath his fingertips. One day they’d make it to where they were going and hopefully he’d be wrong about peace not lasting, but even the safety of this ship was only temporary.
“It’s a big ship, huh, Buddy?” Bash murmured, his voice rough with exhaustion. “But the fight’s not over yet. We’ve got to stay strong, for Emma, for the others.” He leaned down, pressing his forehead to Ranger’s, drawing strength from the dog in ways the poor pup didn’t realize he offered. “I won’t let them down. Not again.”
