Page 26 of Before the Bond Breaks
For a wild heartbeat, I wanted to forget the war with Balder and just melt into him and the way he ignited pleasure throughout my body.
He shifted, bracing his forearm beside my head, weight caging me perfectly. He lowered his mouth to mine again, hungrier now. I bit his lower lip, scoring it, and he responded by thrusting his tongue into my mouth. I tangled mine with his and groaned as tingles raced just under my skin, making my flesh sensitive.
His fingers rubbed my clit in circular motions until I gasped out his name. My hips bucked, chasing the pleasure. He swallowed my moan, his tongue demanding more.
His voice rumbled against my throat, raw. “You’re mine.”
“Yes.”
I clung to him, consumed by sensation. The need in my body swamped anything else. Talon’s fingers slid between my folds, circling, pressing exactly where I needed. I arched, head thrown back, shameless in wanting him.
He murmured my name, thick with urgency. I ground against his hand, desperate for the relief he offered. Walls vanished. All that was left was the tangle of our bodies and the way he anchored me.
I wrapped my leg around his hip, drawing him against my core. The hardness of his body made my vision haze. Inside the war of desire and exhaustion, I felt my power stutter—there, but faint, spiking each time he touched me with intent.
He kissed my throat, mapping every inch, memorizing the path. My nails dug into his back, scraping through his shirt. Talon’sbreath came rough against my ear. I rocked against his palm, ecstasy building, the edge coming fast and sharp.
And then the twin buzz of electronics shattered the moment.
Both our phones vibrated against the nightstand, insistent as an alarm. The sound cut through my haze like a blade.
Talon growled in frustration. I pressed my hand to his cheek, just to keep him there another heartbeat, but duty pounded harder this time. But neither of us reached for our phones.
“Come for me.” As soon as he spoke the words, an orgasm slammed into me. My body spasmed as I rode the wave of pleasure.
He rolled off me onto his side. The sheets tangled around our waists. For a second, I watched the way his muscles flexed as he moved, the raw strength in every line of his body. He didn’t bother to hide the hunger in his gaze, which was threaded with fury at the interruption.
He grabbed the two phones, handing me mine as he swiped the screen on his. His eyebrows shot up.
I glanced at mine, noting that we’ve been added to a new group chat titled “Valen-Steele Inner Circle.” Winter’s name topped the message.
Emergency meeting in my office. Now.
I met Talon’s gaze, then, without saying a word, we sprang up and quickly dressed.
Minutes later, we stepped out of the elevator onto the lower level of the VPA building. My body still felt hollowed, nerves raw and muscles slow, but I forced my back straight. Talon pushed a littleof his energy through our bond, giving me a boost of alertness. I took his hand and gave it a squeeze just as the elevator door opened.
Winter’s office smelled of coffee, and I instantly made my way to the small table against the wall to the right of the doors. As I made myself a cup of coffee, I studied the monitors lining the back wall edge to edge. Each screen was alive with live drone feeds, maps, encrypted comms.
Winter hunched over her keyboard, fingers dancing. The monitor’s glow painted her face in blue and shadow. Quil sat beside her with his inked arms folded, eyes flicking between the screens. He looked ready for violence, but he offered a slow tilt of his head in greeting.
The rest of our people filled the room. Candra and Nicky came in first. Candra sat next to me, and Nicky took the chair next to her. Kyley and Sybil were next, followed by Rina. Trio filled the rest of the chairs around the table in the center of the room. A few seconds later, Jenson, Larc, Shaw, Griz, Turk, and Ace filed into the office, choosing to stand around the perimeter.
Winter’s large office seemed smaller with all fourteen of us in there.
Winter spun her chair to face us, bringing up the first visual feed. Towering above the table, a 3D model of an abandoned rail station flickered into view. The place looked like a steel superstructure with old train platforms crusted with rust. The image rotated, highlighting subterranean levels.
Winter kept her voice calm as always. “I got a tip from one of my sources that says the severing stone is in an underground vaultin this train station. After doing a little digging and tapping into some CCTV feeds in the area.”
Quil tapped another key, switching feeds to blueprints and cross-section overlays. “Two entrances. One is the main platform, and the other is the north tunnels.”
Nicky grunted, arms folded. “Do we know if Balder knows about this yet?”
Winter shook her head. “Not that I can tell. But my view is limited from here.”
Studying the building, I said, “This feels like a trap. Send a drone in to case the place. I want to make sure we aren’t ambushed when we arrive.”
Kyley clicked her tongue, green eyes sharp. “I bet Balder knows the eitrborn he sent after us never came back. We should head to the station and beat Balder’s rejects there if they aren’t already there.”
