Page 36

THIRTY-SIX

TRIP

T hree months.

It’s been three months since Lydia almost died in my arms. Since I killed Patrick and carved his fucking lies into his flesh. Since I carried her home, claimed her in blood and lust, and vowed to never let anything touch her again.

And now she’s mine.

Completely.

She fills every part of my life. My mornings start with her tangled around me, her body soft and warm, her sleepy murmurs making my heart ache in ways I didn’t think were possible. Our days are a rhythm of laughter, chaos, and sex that leaves us both wrecked.

And the nights are ours.

Sweat. Blood. Bite marks. I can’t get enough of her. But it isn’t enough.

I need more.

I need forever.

Which is why I’m currently standing in the exact same clearing where I fucked her for the first time–covered in paint and dirt–five months ago.

The sun is setting, the air thick with the scent of pine and earth, and my heart is pounding harder than it ever has before.

I’m not nervous.

Trip Rivers doesn’t get nervous.

But this is her.

What if she says no?

There’s no plan B.

“Okay, lover boy,” Zane’s voice crackles through the earpiece, his tone laced with amusement. “She’s on her way. You ready?”

“Always,” I mutter, my jaw clenching as I adjust the vest and check the paintball gun in my hand.

Zane helped me set this up. I wasn’t taking any chances on her showing up early and me not being prepared.

“Just remember,” his voice echoes again, “if she shoots you in the dick, that’s on you.”

I roll my eyes.

“She won’t.”

“You sure about that?”

No. But I’m willing to risk it. I move into position, crouching low behind a fallen log, my body pressed close to the earth as I listen.

The woods are quiet. Too quiet. Come on, killstreak. And then the snap of a twig. Fuck yes.

I grin, my pulse kicking up as I see her move through the trees, her body sleek and lethal in the black tactical gear I bought her.

My girl looks dangerous.

But she isn’t the same woman who ran through these woods last time. She’s stronger now.

Faster.

Tactical.

And she’s coming for me. My cock twitches at the thought. I watch as she moves, her paintball gun raised, her movements silent and calculated.

“Where are you, Tripster?” she murmurs, her voice low and playful, but there is an edge to it now.

She’s hunting me. Good. I fucking love when she hunts me. I stay low, my body pressed to the ground as I wait.

Patience.

Wait for it.

She moves closer, her footsteps barely making a sound as she passes by the log where I’m hidden.

Now.

I lunge.

Lydia barely has time to react before I tackle her to the ground, her body is pinned beneath mine as I roll us both through the dirt.

“Found you, killstreak,” I taunt, my mask pressed against hers, my lips a breath away.

But she doesn’t look scared. She looks fucking thrilled.

“About time,” she breathes, her eyes narrowing as her hips shift beneath me.

Without warning…

*Pop

Paint exploded against my thigh. I look down. Bright pink. Fuck.

“Son of a–”

“Oops.”

Lydia’s grin is pure sin as she shoves me off her, rolling onto her knees and taking off into the trees before I can react.

Oh, little killer.

You’re gonna pay for that.

I push to my feet, wiping the paint off my thigh as I take off after her. The woods echo with the sound of her laughter as I chase her, my heart pounding harder with every step.

She’s good.

Too good.

She darts through the trees, her movements fluid and precise, but I’m not far behind. I keep to the shadows, staying low, watching her every move as she tries to flank me.

Smart.

But not smart enough.

I cut her off, circling and moving silently through the underbrush.

She doesn’t see me.

Perfect.

I raise my paintball gun, lining up the shot.

*Pop

The paint hits her shoulder, bright orange exploding across the black fabric.

“Fuck!” she yelps, spinning around, her eyes narrowing as she spots me.

“Gotcha, little killer,” I laugh out, my grin widening as I step closer.

But Lydia isn’t done. She drops to one knee, her paintball gun snapping up with deadly precision.

*Pop

Pink splatters across my chest. Motherfucker.

“Still standing, Tripster,” she purrs, her eyes dark with challenge as she pushes to her feet.

My cock hardens instantly. She’s gonna kill me. And I’ll fucking thank her for it.

“Run,” I growl, my voice dropping an octave as I take a step toward her.

Her lips curl into a wicked smile. “Make me.”

Oh, killstreak. I launch at her.

We hit the ground hard, rolling through the dirt and leaves, paint exploding around us as we fight for control.

She’s on top of me for half a second before I flip us, pinning her beneath me with her wrists above her head.

“Caught you,” I murmur, my lips brushing against her ear.

Her breath hitches, her thighs clenching around my waist.

“Now what?”

I don’t answer. I don’t need to. This is the moment.

My hand slides into my vest, pulling out the small box I’ve been carrying with me all fucking day.

Lydia’s eyes widen as I push up, kneeling between her legs, covered in paint and dirt, and holding the ring in my paint-stained fingers.

Her lips part, her breath catching as she looks at me, her body still pinned beneath mine.

“Marry me, killstreak.”

Her eyes fill with tears, her bottom lip trembling as she stares up at me.

“You’re serious?”

“Dead fucking serious.” My voice is rough, raw with emotion.

Her eyes search mine, her body still beneath me, her heart pounding against my chest.

“Trip…”

“Say yes,” I murmur, my voice softer now, the vulnerability I rarely show bleeding through.

She doesn’t hesitate.

“Yes.” My heart fucking stops.

“Yes?”

“Yes.”

I don’t give her a chance to say anything else. I kiss her.

Hard.

Deep.

Mine.

I tear the vest off her, my hands greedy as I strip her down, paint smears across her bare skin as I kiss and bite my way down her body.

“Mine,” I growl, my lips brushing over the curve of her breast, my teeth scraping against her nipple until she gasps.

“Yours,” she whimpers, her back arching, her body offering itself to me.

I slide lower, my lips trailing down her stomach, my tongue tracing the bruises I left behind the night before.

But when I reach her thighs…

I don’t stop.

I spread her legs wide, my hands gripping her thighs as I bury my face between them, my tongue sliding through her soaked core.

“Trip…” Her voice is breathless, her fingers tangling in my hair as I devour her.

I take my time. I lick. Suck. Bite.

I don’t stop until she’s trembling beneath me, her thighs quivering as her orgasm builds, her breath hitching with every flick of my tongue.

“Come for me, little killer,” I growl, my voice muffled against her soaked pussy.

She shatters.

Her body convulses, her cries echoing through the trees as she comes on my tongue, her juices coating my chin.

I flip her onto her hands and knees, dragging her back against me as I line my cock up with her dripping entrance.

“Gonna fuck you so hard, killstreak,” I growl, my teeth scraping against her shoulder as I thrust inside her.

She cries out, her body arching as I fill her, her tight pussy clenching around me like she never wants me to leave.

I fuck her like I’m claiming her.

Because I am.

I don’t stop.

I don’t slow down.

I fuck her through one orgasm after another, switching positions until I have her on her back, her legs wrapped around my waist as I pound into her, my name falling from her lips like a prayer.

And when she’s nothing but a trembling, quivering mess beneath me I lift her, pressing her back against the moss-covered tree, my hands gripping her ass as I slam into her one last time.

“Mine,” I growl against her lips, my cock swelling as I fill her with everything I have.

“Yours,” she whispers, her body tightening around me as she comes one last time, her pussy milking me for every drop.

And when it’s over, when we’re both wrecked and covered in paint and cum…

I hold her close, my lips brushing against her temple as I whisper the words I’d been holding onto since the moment I met her.

“I love you, killstreak. So fucking much.”

Her fingers tighten in my hair, her lips brushing against mine as she whispers back…

“Forever.”