Page 5 of Smoke the Enemy

“Fuck me, Soren,” I scream because I can barely manage to get the words out. My clit has to be swollen by this point. But God, it all feels so incredible.

“Tell me to take it. To take all your pleasure.” Soren demands.

“Ta-Take it. Take it all. All that you wa-want.”

“Never.” He thrusts into me deeper as if to punctuate the word. “Ever.” Again, hard and deep. “Leave me again.”

“Yes, Soren.”

“Don’t run from me, Little Mouse. I will catch you. I will always catch you.”

“I won’t.”

He grabs my hair and tilts my neck so he can kiss me. His kiss is deep and hard. Strong fingers dig into the skin on my hips as he ruthlessly fucks me. His hips circle to where he still manages to stimulate my clit, and my eyes roll back. Soren then trails open-mouth kisses down my back, and when he reaches my hip he sucks on the tender skin. His right hand moves to my back and down between my cheeks. His finger massaging the tender skin. Without warning, he bites my hip, rams his finger against my delicate skin, almost penetrating the forbidden hole, and thrusts into me deep and hard. The orgasm wrecks through my body as my mouth opens in a silent scream of pleasure. He squeezes me tight as his body vibrates against mine and inside of me.

He then lies down next to me and rolls me to his side. We cling to each other, breathless and sated. The waves washing away any evidence of Soren’s orgasm.

“Can I ask another question?” All too soon, Soren pulls away. He runs his hand over his face and smooths his wet hair back.

“So…what’s your question,” he asks.

A chill breaks out over my skin and the water is freezing without the warmth from his body. Even his eyes appear darker and colder. What in the hell just happened? We connected. I felt it and I know he did too. I guess I could ask that, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime moment. One that I’ll probably never have the opportunity to ask him again. One question and he’ll answer honestly. Is he the killer? Does he know who the killer is? What is The Illicit Brotherhood? What is the significance of the tie? Does he love me?

“Do I have to ask now? It’s cold and my head isn’t in the right space.” In fact, it’s too cold and I begin backing away from him through the shallow water and back to the sandy shore thinking I’ll somehow be warmer. But my bottoms are nowhere in sight. The wind blows against my back as I blindly make my way to land. When we emerge from the water, me bottomless and Soren topless, I force myself to stand tall and not cover myself.

Soren doesn’t answer. His face gives nothing away. He doesn’t even appear to be cold. Soren is so ruggedly handsome and terrifying. I should probably be scared of him, yet all I want to do is climb him and wrap my arms around him and repeat what we just did a few moments ago. To hell with how unhinged he is.

I release an exasperated sigh at how ludicrous I am and that instead of giving me an answer he only stares down at me. I widen my eyes and raise my eyebrows at another attempt for a response. The cords in his neck tighten, but he remains stoic, waiting on what I have to say.

“Fine.” I bite out, and in a rush I say the first thing that comes to mind. “Who do you suspect is the killer?”

“Bryce Van Doren.” With that, he stalks back to his bike and waits for me.

Soren

I committed a serious offense by having sex with Taylor just now. But nobody has to know. And if they find out, fuck them, I’ll deal with it then. Taylor is so delicious, and a temptation I cannot resist. I’m aware of how cold my demeanor is coming off to her right now. But it’s for her own safety. I have to put some distance between us now until I can figure out a way to make her completely mine. Or ours. I don’t mind sharing her with Steffan. He’s my twin, so I’ve always considered what’s mine as his and vice versa. That dickhead Alex Dupree is a problem, though. One that needs solving immediately. Who is he to return to claim not only leadership of the Brotherhood, but my Little Mouse as well? Taylor is mine. She came apart under my touch, she submits to my will, and she comes alive through all of it. Look at how much she’s grown, how muchmoreshe’s in tune with her own body since last year. This isn’t the same timid mouse at the Halloween party a year ago. I’ll be damned if I’ll let Alex have her. The thought has me wanting to burn the entire campus, and whole damn town, to the ground until I find him.Especially with the taste of Taylor still on my tongue.

The fearful look on her face when she first saw Alex fueled a new anger within me. I didn’t think I could hold anymore rage inside myself. I was sure my father had filled me with enough anger that there wasn’t possibly room for anymore. Then here comes Taylor’sexstaking his claim to what’s mine.When I saw the terror in her eyes while my brother kept me at bay while Dupree’s filthy hands touched her, I wanted to kill Alex Dupree right then and there.

Then the sight of her running. I’ve always gotten a thrill stalking her, the hunt of it all. But seeing her run in fear of someone else — hell fucking no. Worse, she didn’t run to me for protection. I was right there. Instead, she took off, and ran away from me like I was as much of a monster as her ex. I am the monster my father created, but not to her. Not to my sweet little church mouse. When I came for her, she didn’t run to greet me. I’m seeing red again at the thought. The fucking reminder.

I can see in her eyes now that she’s still suspicious. She’s worried I’ll turn on her and hand her over to Alex. Maybe she’s still worried I might be the killer, even though I told her I suspect it’s Van Doren. I am a killer, but not the one who’s been terrorizing campus. College students are not on my radar.Until recently, anyway. Dupree and Van Doren are going to be the exceptions.No doubt she probably also thinks her ex, Alex, is behind all this. Possibly. I hadn’t looked into it, but I will. I was telling the truth when I said Bryce. That’s who the Brotherhood suspects, and who we’ve been ordered from The Illicit to wipe out.

“I need pants.” I hate the detached tone in her voice. She better not be fucking regretting this.

“It’s dark. Nobody will see.”

She releases a humorless laugh. “I’m also cold, so pants would be nice. Forget it. Just take me home. Please.”

I want to take her back to the mansion, but I know I can’t. Alex will be waiting. And how would I explain her showing up soaking wet and naked from the waist down? Silently, I help her onto the back of my bike, and then I drive her home.

The entire drive I felt her pulling away from me and back into her shell. She didn’t hold me as tight. She didn’t lean on me for support, and though I hated her tears of agony, I relished the fact that it was my body she used as her anchor. Now Taylor is stiff and barely making physical contact. She climbs off the back of my bike and begins to hurry off, most likely out of fear of someone seeing her. At least she doesn’t live on campus anymore. Where her house is located, she doesn’t have many neighbors, so running around half-dressed won’t be an issue. I reach out to grip her elbow and spin her back to me.

“You made a promise.” I don’t have to clarify that she promised not to run from me again. I narrow my eyes and pin her with my stare. “I told you I will catch you, Little Mouse.”

I hate the silence. Usually it’s me giving everyone the silent treatment or not allowing them to be privy to my thoughts. Taylor has no clue that I communicate with her more than anyone, other than Steffan. Instead of answering me, she jerks her arm free and walks to the door.

“Taylor!” I call out. She turns around and I bend down at my bike seat. Leaning down, I take a long inhale in the spot where she’d been sitting. I close my eyes and sigh. “I don’t plan on cleaning this seat for a long time.”

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