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“Seventeen drips,” he says, his voice tight.
I squint slightly, and he looks back at Victor’s flames. “Seventeen drips, until Carter stopped breathing.”
My lips part as my breath constricts. I switch back to the eruption, the fire turning burnt orange. That’s what he was looking at. Counting the drips of Victor's blood.
We don't say anything, but the energy between us speaks louder than any words could.
I take his hand in mine. Enjoying the way his callous hand cups my palm. “Thank you,” I whisper.
He runs his gaze over my face, landing on my lips. When he looks at me, the red flame glints over his eyes and hard jawline. The look he gives me is possessive and so devastatingly sexy. “I told you before. You don’t need to thank me for doing what I’m supposed to do.”
My chest warms despite the angry fire screaming at us. His eyes darken as he watches me; then suddenly, he leans down to the shell of my ear, grazing his soft lips over the curves of it. I tremble on impact, not caring about those around. To me, even with an audience, it's only me and him. Ronan places a delicate kiss on the lobe, then whispers seductively, “The things I would do to you if you weren’t hurt right now.” His beard teases the edges of my jaw as he tugs me a little closer to him. “I would lick every part of you as he burns away, then take you right there on that tree.” I skate my eyes to the large tree next to the one holding Victor's blazing body. “And fuck you until you’re coming and crying all for me, my beautiful, little snake.” My breath catches and I have to swallow to pull myself together. He leaves one last peck, invisible to the eyes of others, and stands back upright as if he didn't leave me needy and melting like lava.
I want to reverse time and kick that fucker's ass because my injury is a reason why I can’t enjoy the beauty that comes with his presence. Because if I weren’t battered right now, I would let him do every last dirty thing that he wants to me.
Instead, I clear my throat as if nothing is happening, and we both turn back to the firestorm, our hands still clasped together, all of us watching the inferno rise.
After seconds pass, I notice the grayish smoke rising from the burnt corpse, the rancid aroma of spoiled eggs, and copper fills the surrounding air. “What happens when a cop or first responder sees the smoke above?” I ask curiously.
Ronan grunts. “I work closely with someone in the police department; he made sure no one came to investigate the scene. He knows to keep away from anything that has to do with GenCre.”
“I didn’t know you worked with the law.”
“Occasionally, they call for my help when they can’t handle it on their own.”
I nod and watch as Victor's skin peels and turns to ash, his true skeleton form revealing itself. “Sometimes having them on your side is needed. I get to do my job with no problem, and Gear stays out of my way.”
Gear? Never heard of him, but as long as I never get to meet him, I’m fine with it. Whatever Ronan’s been doing so far with him has clearly been useful.
“This calls for a picture!” Wicked Mal squeals. I whip my focus to her, and Ronan shakes his head as she rushes around, passing her phone to one of the Rampages. She grabs Boone, too. Ronan wraps his arm around my waist gently, and Mal stands in a pose beside me. “Say cheese, bitch.”
I smile, watching her excitement over this and circling my arm around Ronan's waist, too. He tugs me in protectively into him. That surge of contentment and peace surfaces in me again. I rest my head against him and look ahead. The fire scorches behind us and the camera snaps in a white flash.
Click.
Chapter 28