Page 5

5

WYNN

W hen I returned from my patrol around the penthouse and subsequent grocery run, Ryuji and Caspian were giving each other the evil eye across the kitchen. Everything had been fine outside, with no indicators that our location was compromised, but inside this kitchen felt like the real battlefield.

“Is everything all right?” I asked as I started to unbag the groceries. Obi had asked for various ingredients, but the corner of my lip quirked as I pulled out shallots, tomato passata, cream, and vodka.

Cas grunted, and Ryuji grinned. “Peachy.”

I doubted that, but I wasn’t going to push it. I’d lived with Ryu long enough to know his difficult nature stemmed from his own insecurities, and the sooner Caspian realized that, the sooner their friction would diminish. It wasn’t that long ago that we frequently fought.

“Where is Leona?” I asked, changing the subject. I hadn’t seen her on the couch when I came in.

“Shower,” they said at the same time and then went right back to glaring.

I glanced between them both. Why were neither of them with her, especially considering her injury?

My thoughts clicked together and I whirled. So that’s what this was about. “You made her angry. You’re both in trouble.”

They said nothing, but a muscle feathered in Caspian’s jaw as he turned toward the windows and drug a hand down his face.

“Well, since you both were idiots, you can put the groceries away.” I set down Ciel’s carton of almond milk and headed for the hallway.

“Where are you going?” Ryuji called.

“To make sure she doesn’t slip and fall.” Then, with a grin, I added, “Also, to shower.” I didn’t stick around to see how they’d react; I knew already. They would be angry with one another, and that left a perfect opening for me.

This partnership was already tenuous enough, and even though I was reluctant to add to the tension, it wasn’t safe for Leona to be in the bathroom by herself with her concussion. The two of them should have realized that before they pissed her off. Her safety was more important than their grievances.

I pulled off my jacket and tossed it in my room before I entered Leona’s and Cas’s shared room. Puffs of steam rolled out from the attached bathroom, the sound of running water muffling the sound of Leona’s soft humming.

She did that when she thought no one was listening. Talked and hummed under her breath.

I slipped into the bathroom. Condensation covered the glass shower doors, so I could barely make out the silhouette of her naked body. My cock stiffened. It had only been a day since we’d had sex, and I could still feel her on my skin. I’d never had sex like that before. Besides the satisfaction of bodily urges, it usually left me feel hollow and lonely. But I’d never felt so peaceful, so balanced, as I did with her wrapped up in my arms.

I would never let her go. She was my path to redemption.

She stopped humming and glanced over her shoulder to see me leaning against the bathroom countertop with my arms crossed.

“You assholes!” she shouted, still washing her hair. The condensation blocked her view of me just as much as it did me of her. “I fucking told you to stay out of here!”

“It’s just me, darling.”

She paused and wiped a hand across the glass, her face peeking through. “Wynn. Finally, someone with more than half a brain.”

Her breasts pressed against the glass, and my jaw tensed. I rubbed the back of my neck to gain control over my body. “How are you doing?”

It was hot in here, and I wanted to be close in case the steam messed with her head.

She sighed, stepping back under the spray. Soap trailed down her body and my eyes followed every bubble I could see through the foggy glass.

“I’m just tired,” she said finally.

I gripped the counter. Exhaustion filtered through her voice. We were all feeling it today. The tension, the tiredness, the failure of the night before. I’d only slept a few hours, dreaming of her being crushed under that rubble. I’d been trying to put it out of my mind, which was why I volunteered to do grocery pickup.

Past Wynn would have tried to dissect every wrong step that led to mission failure. I would have obsessed over the problems that led to Volpe’s disappearance. The version of Wynn that stood before her now only wanted to help Leona feel better. If she felt better, it lifted some of the stain from my soul.

Besides, Ciel was obsessing enough for all of us combined.

“Can I come in?”

“Please.”

I pulled off my shirt and kicked off my pants before opening the shower door and slipping inside. The warmth of the water caressed my skin as her eyes took in every inch of me. My cock already stood at half-attention, but the longer I stared at her, the harder it got.

She reached out her hand, but I paused before taking it.

“I want you,” I murmured. “More than anything.”

Her chest heaved; her eyes went dark. Soap slid down the soft skin of her ribs.

“But,” I continued, “I didn’t come in here for that. You’re hurt, and I’m only here to help.”

She let out a breath of disappointment, but stretched her hand out again. “Thank you.”

I grabbed it this time, letting her pull me under the stream. Quickly, I washed my body and hair, making sure to use her soap so her scent would linger on me. Then I spun her around and worked conditioner through her hair from tips to crown, but not to the root.

She groaned when my fingers massaged her head. I tried not to aggravate her injury, but she needed the relaxation. “Where the hell did you learn to do that?”

I smiled softly. “Willow. After we got out…I helped her a lot. She’s very particular about her hair.”

Leona smiled, leaning her back against my chest while my hands moved to her shoulders. “I am grateful to be reaping the rewards of her fine tutelage.”

For a few minutes, I did nothing more than knead her skin. My eyes were glued to a droplet of water as it trailed down her body.

I couldn’t stop myself. Just a tiny taste. I leaned down to kiss the column of her neck, allowing my hands to trace the skin of her ribs.

“Wynn,” she breathed. The way she said my name crumbled my willpower like a stack of cards.

“Sorry.” I pulled back. What was I thinking? I was supposed to be the careful one. I wasn’t like Ryu, whose singular goal in life was to give in to his desires. “I didn’t intend?—”

“I want this, Wynn.” She grabbed my hands and pushed her ass against me. “Please.”

I couldn’t keep my fingers from gripping her, but still I held back.

“Please,” she whimpered, the sound slicing through my internal debate. “I need this. After everything, I need you.”

As my cock rubbed against her body, the thin tether of control snapped within me. My hands circled around her breasts, my mouth clamped around her neck, and she arched her back with a moan.

If she wanted it, how could I say no?

My hand snaked down her stomach until my fingers dusted over her clit. She cursed as I nudged her legs wider so I could run my fingers through her folds.

I would never do anything to hurt her, but I also couldn’t stand the idea of disappointing her right now. Not after last night.

I would have to take her slowly. Worship her.

“Sit down.” I jerked my head toward the shower seat carved into the wall. She obeyed without question. I angled the showerhead spray toward her to keep her warm.

I kneeled in front of her, knees biting into the ground. She watched my fingers lazily trail up her legs. Her right thigh was no longer as angry and swollen, but a deep, nasty bruise had begun to form. My hands parted her legs.

“Wynn,” she breathed when I leaned forward and gusted a breath over the apex of her thighs. Steam curled around us. I peppered kisses along the joint of her leg and hip, then guided one of her legs over my shoulder.

“Relax for me, darling.”

I flattened my tongue and licked a broad stripe up her pussy. Her hands twisted in my hair, pulling my face harder against her. I dragged my tongue across her in torturously slow movements, my hands holding firm on her thighs. My tongue circled her clit, and she whimpered, leaning her head against the shower wall.

My cock ached to slip inside her, but I took my time with my tongue instead. She groaned when my finger pressed inside her entrance and crooked up. “Oh, my God. Yes .”

I moved faster, paying attention to her jerking movements, watching and listening as she found her pleasure against my tongue.

“That’s it, beautiful,” I murmured. I inserted a second finger. She keened, thighs tightening around my head. With my free hand, I reached up to roll the peaks of her nipples between my fingers. “There is no better taste than you on my lips. There are no better sounds than your moans.”

I teasingly nipped at her clit and dug my hand into her ass, keeping her planted in place. Her hand clamped over mine and she came with a moan, her walls clenching around my tongue while she rode out her orgasm against my face.

Slowly, I withdrew, unable to tear my gaze from her. She was a vision, dripping with water from the shower enveloping us both. I quite liked this place: kneeled before her as she quivered with pleasure. I would kneel before my queen at any time.

Her eyes fluttered open. “More.”

My cock jerked. I grinned and leaned forward again, not even close to eating my fill, but her fingers on my chin stopped me.

“I want to ride you,” she said, clasping my fingers tighter. I hesitated. “I want your cock in me. And I don’t want to hear any questions about whether I’m okay. I want this so badly, Wynn. Please.”

I couldn’t refuse her. “Let me sit.”

I maneuvered us so I could sit on the bench. If she was in charge, she could control us, and make sure this didn’t aggravate her concussion. My hands steadied her hips, paying careful attention to the bruising on her thigh, as she delicately climbed into my lap. So far, so good. Her arms went around my neck. I brushed my lips against hers, breathing her in, giving her control. Her teeth drug along my bottom lip and my fingers tightened. I let out a groan when she lined herself and sank down.

“ Yes ,” she whispered. She felt so tight. So warm.

“Does your leg hurt?”

“It’s fine.”

We breathed in together, sharing the same air. The golden flecks in her eyes shined down at me. I pressed steamy kisses across her chest before sucking her nipple into my mouth.

“Move with me, Wynn,” she commanded, her eyes rolling back, her fingers tangling in my hair.

I obeyed, rolling my hips to thrust up into her, rocking us both in singular motion.

“Okay?” I asked, pressing more kisses against her chest, her neck, anything I could get my mouth on.

She cracked open an eye. “Don’t you dare stop.”

Her hips rolled, and I tilted my head back against the tiles. Shit . It felt amazing. Just a few months ago, I couldn’t imagine feeling anything like this. I used to hate the intimacy of physical touch, but now I couldn’t breathe without my hands on her. She lit me on fire from the inside out. There was no one for me but her.

“Darling,” I breathed while she slid up and down my cock. My hands moved the weight of her hips, taking control of her so she didn’t stress her legs. Slow . Delicious. She was delectable. “I should have asked you this the first time, but do we need protection?”

I never saw myself having children. Willow, maybe. Me? Never.

But with Leona…it felt possible in a way I’d never felt before. But that didn’t feel like it belonged in her current life plan. I just wanted to know what steps we needed to take to protect her from things she didn’t want.

Her lips sucked on my neck, and I groaned, jerking my hips up. “I’m good. I got an IUD a year ago.”

“Good.” I pulled back and caught her eye. “Your father allowed that?”

She looked to the side. “He didn’t know. I just wanted to be prepared in case…”

The words hung between us. In case Volpe ever wanted her .

I pressed my forehead against hers. “I’m proud of you for taking charge of your healthcare.”

She whimpered a laugh, the sound tinkling across my skin like little bells. “Wow, great line for right in the middle of sex.”

It was true. Nobody should force someone to do something they didn’t want to do. Willow and I knew that from experience.

Whatever Leona wanted to do with her body was her right.

I dipped my hand between us to rub her clit.

“You’re so beautiful, darling. Your pussy is made for my cock. Look how we come together. I’ve never felt anything like this.” I groaned at the building friction between us. I enjoyed edging because it gave me control, placed me in charge of release. With everything I’d been through, I needed that. But now, I didn’t even want to edge her. She needed this. I needed her. “Come for me. Let me see your face. Let me hear you.”

She rolled and rocked while I kept tight circles on her clit, and all it took was a few more movements before she cried out my name, clamped her legs tighter around my thighs, and came. High-pitched moans spilled from her lips, echoing in the shower, and I followed right after.

I pressed kisses to her mouth, chin, and neck as the warm water showered our bodies. After a minute or two, I helped her climb off.

She stumbled, and I caught her with my arm banded around her waist. “Shit. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“No.” She giggled. “It’s not my head. My legs are just jelly.”

I chuckled, nuzzling my nose into her neck. “How are you feeling?”

She smiled softly. “Better. Thank you, Wynn.”

I pressed a kiss to her forehead before leading her back under the spray to clean the both of us up.

“Stay here,” I told her after we both rinsed off and she shut off the water.

I grabbed two towels from the linen cabinet. After wrapping her up first, I wrapped mine around my waist.

“Come on, you need to drink water.” I took her hand and sat her on the bed she shared with Caspian.

“That one’s mine,” she said, gesturing at the cup on the bedside table. I handed it to her, and she finished the contents. When she was done, she stared at the empty glass. Water from her hair dripped down the bare skin of her shoulders.

“What’s wrong?” I kneeled in front of her, my heart picking up speed for an entirely different reason. Had we done too much? “Do you need more painkillers?”

“Is this going to work?” she whispered, searching my face.

I smoothed the wet curls off her temples. Was she talking about Ryuji and Caspian, neither of whom seemed like they could stand each other? Or was she talking about something else?

“The guys?”

She nodded. “All of us. The partnership. The empire. Have I gotten in way too far over my head?”

I had to believe that we hadn’t. That we’d get through all of this.

I’d watched Fallon take control of Philadelphia, even if I was on the outside, just barely getting to know Obi and the Shadows. I’d seen Fallon come into her power. I’d seen her build something from nothing.

And I’d also watched as it almost crumbled to ash in front of her.

Fallon and her men had gotten through it. Would we?

With the future we’d planned—a future free of trafficking, where we could protect the city and its people—I had found my opportunity for redemption. If I could use my power to help us succeed, it would rewrite my past. I’d found the path that would heal my soul. This was it. I wouldn’t give that up easily.

I brushed my lips against hers. “It will work. It just needs time.”

“What if I don’t have time? What if everything crumbles before we can figure it out?”

I squeezed her knee. “If that happens, we will pick up the pieces and start over.”

Her eyebrows furrowed. “What does that mean?”

“This will be difficult,” I said with a sigh. How could it not be? We were all in unfamiliar territory. We each had something hanging in the balance. These relationships were delicate, even without all our enemies bearing down on us. “But you are not a person who gives up, and neither are we. Whatever happens, we will figure it out.”

She opened her mouth to say something, but a fist pounded against the door.

“Leona!” Ciel’s voice came from the other side.

With a towel still wrapped around my waist, I pulled the door open. My brother did a brief double-take, eyes raking across my body, before he swallowed, and looked around my shoulder, cheeks dusted pink. My eyebrows knit together.

“L-Leona,” he repeated.

“Ciel? What’s wrong?” She stood, arms tight around her towel.

“I found him,” he said. “I found Volpe.”