Page 31

Chapter thirty-one

Raegan

Aiden’s gone by the time I wake.

The sheets and a blanket are tucked tightly around me where he’d been, and I hold them to my nose, breathing in the lingering cinnamon scent.

Jack chuckles against my hair, tracing his fingers in an intricate pattern on my thigh beneath the covers.

“Miss him already?”

Humming softly, I lean further into him.

“He’s always so busy. We never get moments like this.” He says nothing, so I continue, “I wish I knew how I could help. What to do so he can have a break.”

“It’ll settle after GE’s gone.”

“Unless we’re going after them tomorrow, that doesn’t help him now. What should I do?”

“Train. Stay here. Stay safe.”

Releasing a short huff, I turn in his arms and frown at the knowing smile there.

Even though he knows what I’m going to say, I say it anyway.

“I was hoping for something more productive than that.” He arches a brow, and I guess training with my gift is considered productive.

“I feel like I’ve already come so far with my gift. It doesn’t…hurt like it used to.”

“You’ve stopped fighting it.”

I pause, considering that thought and realizing he may be right.

He usually is. Flipping my hand on his chest, I imagine my gift there and all it’s done.

All I’ve done.

“I always hated it. I thought it made me destined to be the bad guy. What hero destroys things?” I swallow past the lump in my throat.

“But you, the others, the Guild…you’ve shown me it’s not the gift that makes a villain. It’s what you choose to do with it.” My eyes search his, finding his full focus riveted to me.

I never have to question if he’s listening or if something else has stolen his concentration.

When he’s with me, I feel like the most important person in the world.

“I’m not really sure who I am now that I’ve accepted that. If I’m not a villain or a monster.” I fist my hand, asking the question I’ve always wondered from him.

“What do you see when you look at me?”

“A candle in the dark,” he answers without hesitation, his voice a dark, husky sound that curls around my lungs.

“My guiding light.”

My heart ricochets, thrashing wildly while my stomach flutters, and I lose all sense of how to breathe.

How? How does he always know the things to say that knock the air from my lungs and make me feel weightless?

I don’t even know how to respond.

How does anyone respond to something like that?

All I know is…

“I love you.” I trail my hand up his chest, lingering on the paper crane tattoo, then slide my fingers to the back of his neck and into his messy black hair.

“I love you so much that sometimes I’m afraid my heart is going to burst when I’m with you. Swear you’ll never leave my side, Jack.” I grip his hair as the demand falls from my lips.

His smile is sharp and wicked, his gaze shadowed in darkness.

“Never,” he promises, his hand gripping my thigh and pulling it over his leg.

He runs his hand along the length of my thigh and over my hip, dipping to my waist and up my scarred back to hold my nape.

Jack leans closer, his lips feathering over mine.

My breath catches. “You will always have me. Until every star in the sky burns out. There will never be a me without you.”

Fuck.

It’s exactly what I needed to hear.

Jackson kisses me like I’m the oxygen he needs to breathe, and I fall into him like gravity.

Pressure swells in my chest, overflowing to my limbs and head until I’m buzzing with warmth.

He flips me onto my back, his kiss deepening until I think he’ll devour me whole.

I open to him completely, relaxing into the bed as he kisses me with dark possession.

As his hands caress my skin until it burns.

His mouth owning me like a brand.

He touches my slit, inserting a finger into my core, and my inner walls tighten, trying to hold him inside.

Jack adds another finger, angling them to stroke my front wall as he pumps them in and out.

Our lips smack apart, and I gasp for air.

“You’ll never be rid of me, little one. Not unless you decide to kill me.”

“Never.”

He smirks, trading his fingers for his dick, then thrusting inside in a single strike.

The sudden stretch makes me cry out until he collars my throat and squeezes.

“Even if I use you to fuck my demons out?”

I grab his arm as my breath hitches, and he slams into my pussy like he owns it.

I’m getting wetter with every slide of his dick, my cunt weeping for him as he uses my body and sends me into a euphoric state.

I couldn’t answer him even if I wanted to.

The lack of air, the blankness that overtakes my brain as I’m reduced to nothing but sizzling nerve endings and tightening muscles.

Reeling me around his finger like an overly-bound spring that’s ready to pop.

Black dots my vision as he fucks me into oblivion, snapping the restraints on my orgasm.

Ecstasy floods my body, sweeping me away in a riptide of pleasure.

Jackson groans above me, and I force my eyes to open.

He drops onto his forearms on either side of me, panting steadily and eyes brimming with obsession as they stare into mine.

He’s absolutely right.

I would have to kill him myself to get rid of him.

No one else could do it but me.

I cup the side of his face, brushing my fingertips through the streaks of sweat and finding myself addicted to the way he looks at me.

“You’d have to kill me, too,” I admit breathlessly.

Frowning when I realize Jack hasn’t left the elevator, I stop and spin around.

“Aren’t you coming with us? ”

He presses a button for another floor, then shakes his head with a smile.

“No.”

The doors begin to close, and I slam my hand against one of them so they jerk back open.

“Why not? Where are you going?”

Kellan chuckles, leaning over me to place his hand above mine.

“He doesn’t usually hang around the Guild members.”

“Then we’ll go back to the Loft.”

“There’s someone I need to see. Work on your gift being active, and I’ll find you when I’m done.”

“Who?”

“Mallory.”

My chest tightens with unease, and I drop my arm from the elevator.

It feels like I’ve been punched in the gut, all the air expelling from my lungs.

Jackson answers my unspoken question.

“I’ve been helping her with her gift. And you.”

“Me?”

He nods once, but I’m still too stunned to ask anything else.

Kellan lowers his hand, and the doors begin to close.

“I’ll see you soon,” my shadow promises before the doors shut.

What…is that about?

“Come on, beautiful. I’m sure he’ll fill you in later if you ask.”

I don’t refute it because I know it’s true.

The bigger issue is figuring out where the fuck do I begin with all the questions now running rampant in my head.

How long has this been going on?

Why is he training her on her gift?

What is he helping her with when it comes to me?

Why is he doing this?

What is he trying to accomplish?

Is he hoping to use her gift against GE somehow?

Or is this just about me?

Kellan prods me with a slap to the ass.

I smack his chest in return and pivot out of his reach.

“Smack my ass in front of the others, and I’ll squeeze your balls,” I quip, and he laughs.

“You’ll have to get to them first.”

Calling on my gift, I fill my entire body with it and wiggle my fingers.

“Oh, I think I’ll manage.”

His grin sharpens.

“You’re proving to Jackson you have full control over your gift now, remember? What’ll he say if he sees a hole in my jeans?”

I snort.

“Probably that you deserved it.”

He cackles and settles a hand on my back to get us moving toward the Guild Hall.

“I think you may be right. Let’s not start anything too reckless while Aiden and Dane are gone, though.”

The reminder smothers my playful mood.

He’s right. Aiden, Dane, Harvey, and Reid went to install the cameras at the beach house.

If all goes well, they should be back soon.

If not…we need to be prepared to back them up.

It’s probably why Jack insisted on me testing my gift, so I’d be ready no matter what.

The hall is wild with energy and noise.

Which is a silly thing to notice anymore because it’s always like this.

Morning, afternoon, and night, they’re always rowdy and carefree.

So, when a hush suddenly falls over the area where we walk in, it’s obvious.

I glance around, trying to figure out what caused the sudden silence and find the tables nearest us all staring at…

me .

Kellan wraps his arm around my back protectively, ready to snap in their direction when a voice sing-shouts across the room.

“REGGIE! Over here, my dear! I’ve saved you a seat!”

All the eyes on me swivel to Gabe dancing on his chair as he waves me over in an exaggerated performance.

I can’t help but laugh at his outrageous moves and ignore the rest of the room to join him and the other familiar Guild members.

He pounces on me, knocking into Kellan in his effort and ignoring the fact that my gift is active.

“Oh, so glad you could come! They’re kicking my butt again, I tell you. I need your wisdom.”

“I’m not sure I’m much better, but I’ll do my best,” I offer him with a smile.

He fluffs my hair. “Wonderful.” Gabe grabs my hand and drags me to the table, waiting until I’ve taken the seat he’d apparently saved for me before he plops into his and loudly scoots it next to mine.

Kellan scoff-laughs—muttering something about being forgotten so easily—and walks around the table to the other open seat next to Fabian.

Gabriel passes me his cards.

“Here, take a looksee.”

“Is this the usual game?” I ask, and the others nod.

Not that it makes a big difference.

I’m still figuring out a strategy for how to play to win this one, but at least I have a small idea of where to start.

Lowering my voice, I whisper to Gabe, “Thanks for that.”

“Don’t worry about those coots. Half of ’em are from the Pits and the rest are just nervous.”

I get it.

I only just figured out how to use my gift without destroying everything I touch.

Hopefully, I can earn their trust by showing them while I’m here with my gift active that I’m in full control.

The sound of plastic and something like beads rustling around and clicking draws my attention to Gabe.

“Ah, perfect.” He pinches a tablet from a small bag and flicks it into his mouth.

“Down the hatch!”

Zedd suddenly appears, snatching the bag from his hand.

“You’ve had enough.”

Enough?

! How many has he had?

Silas chokes on his drink.

Evie slaps his back until he swats her away.

“That doesn’t actually help choking victims, Eves.”

She shrugs.

“Well then, consider it my consoling back pat for you realizing you’re only winning your bets because he’s been high.”

“You should give him his money back, Si,” Fabian adds mildly, dropping a few peanuts into his mouth.

“What? That’s his choice . He didn’t have to take the bets!”

Gabriel and Zedd aren’t listening, still focused on each other.

“Do you have any more?” Zedd presses, and Gabe smiles, a dreamy look on his face.

“Do you see how he takes care of me, Reggie?”

“Uh, yeah. I don’t mean to pry, but…are you okay?”

Gabe pats my arm.

“You’re a sweetie, too. I promise I’m okay. The drugs just”—he twists his hands in the air by his head— “keep the memories at bay.”

I frown.

“Even when you’re not using your gift?”

He chuckles.

“Oh, there’s no forgetting what I’ve remembered. And I’ve remembered… so so many horrid things. But these…and Zedd…I’d be lost without them.”

Zedd huffs, striding away to sit at the next table over.

He may not talk to us much, but at least he cares about Gabriel.

“So, are we still playing or…” Silas trails off, his dark eyes flipping between me and Gabe, who sits forward in his seat.

“Still playing! I’ve got Raegan with me now, so I’m getting my money back!”

“Wait,” I intervene.

“We’re playing with money?”

Gabriel wafts his hand.

“Don’t worry about that. I’ve got us covered.”

Kellan leans back in his chair, arms crossed.

“Oh, good. There’s—”

Something hits Evie’s back and then slaps to the ground.

She whips around, glaring behind her.

“Who threw that?”

Silas sighs, tossing his cards defeatedly to the middle of the table, and the others follow suit.

Kellan grabs my arm and tugs me from my seat.

“We need to get out of range—”

“Sorry, Evie! Jared dodged and—”

The girl doesn’t have time to finish her explanation before Evie chucks it right back, nailing her in the face.

The guy with her sends something at Evie’s chair leg, then yanks it and sends her tumbling to the floor.

The room breaks out into chaos.

Kellan drags me behind the bar as chairs, tables, shoes, and gifts fly around the room.

Silas catches a table aimed at Evie with his vines, then tosses it to the side, where it cracks and splits.

Evie throws baseball-sized peanuts at someone, who deflects them with a shield.

The broken table reminds me of the first time I’d seen the Guild.

When Aiden and Cibrina had watched a fight from the sidelines while casually discussing compensation.

I’d almost forgotten the chaotic introduction.

Cassandra crawls behind the bar with us, peeking her head above the counter to watch.

“Mind if I join you?” She ducks when something flies toward us, but Kellan bats it to the side.

“Get Cibrina so she can catalog who breaks what,” he orders.

She nods and races out of the hall.

“Why’d you pull me out? I can handle myself.”

The floor shakes, and then the wood shifts to reveal a layer of metal.

Nothing happens under us but under the tables and members?

Metal bands creep from the floor and snatch members off their feet.

“That’s enough.” Aiden stands in the center of the room, his expression thunderous.

“All of you to the training gym. Now .”

Kellan snickers.

“ That’s why.”

The metal sets everyone back on their feet, then sinks to the floor.

A guy with buzzed hair touches the floor, and the wooden boards move back in place.

Aiden thanks him, then waits for the members to file out of the room to the elevators before he follows.

“What is he going to do?”

“Wanna watch?”

“Does a bear shit in the woods?”

He snorts.

“So unladylike.”

I jab him in the ribs, and he uses my elbow to tug me against him, then sucks on my ear.

“Don’t tease me, beautiful, or I’ll fuck you in this now-empty hall.” He rubs his hand into the fabric over my pussy, and my blood heats .

Fuck.

No, I want to see what Aiden’s doing.

Tickling his elbow where I know he’s sensitive, I twirl out of his reach the second it does the trick.

“Bye!” I run, but it only gets me as far as the elevator because there is fuck-all chances of me taking the stairs down eleven floors.

Kellan laughs as he strolls to catch up with me, knowing there’s no escape.

I wait for the elevator to arrive after dropping off the last batch of members.

Racing inside, I jab the door close button in the tiny chance it can beat him, but his hand slaps on the door, and he saunters inside.

Damn.

He stands behind me, his grin turning feral when he bends to whisper in my ear, “You know how I get when you try to run from me, beautiful.” His hot breath tickles the wisps of hair around my ear, and my thighs clench.

“I want to see what Aiden’s doing,” I rasp.

He chuckles, the sound rumbling deep in his chest. “I’ll let you watch.” He slips his hand under my dress, grazing his fingers between my folds over my underwear.

“Then maybe I’ll bend you over the couch at the Loft and fuck you in this dress. You don’t know how hard it’s been to keep my hands to myself.” His other hand dips into my bra to squeeze my breast. He thumbs my nipple, and my cunt throbs.

“Kell,” I pant. “If the doors open…”

Kellan bites the crook of my neck, swirling his tongue over it and then sucking it hard.

“Open where? You haven’t pushed the button yet.”

My eyes fly open.

“Shit! I’m going to miss it!” I poke the first-floor button and shove him off, and he laughs.

“There’ll be plenty of time.”

He doesn’t touch me until the doors ding open, and then he leads me through a side door to the weight room.

“Kell, this isn’t—”

“Shh…” he growls, pushing me against the small lip in front of the window that reveals the training gym.

“You can watch him from here.”

A crowd surrounds Aiden on the other side of the gym.

He has his whip sword out—blunted where I see it strike the attacks down—and a single shield.

Members attack him on their own or in units, trying to find an opening.

He knocks them down one after another, sending some flying or off their feet.

Kellan circles my clit, dragging his fingers through my arousal and teasing me with it as Aiden takes on the Guild single-handedly.

“I knew you’d like watching him.” He laughs, his fingers getting more slick the more I witness.

He yanks my underwear down to my thighs, then glides a digit into my wet heat.

“Did you know he trains every day too? He’s down here in the weight room every morning before anyone else wakes up?”

I can’t restrain my groan any longer, letting it pass through parted lips as I rock into his fingers and watch Aiden.

One of the members gets around his sword, closing in on him, and my breath hitches with worry.

Aiden slams his fist into them, and they fall to the ground.

The others rush him in that moment, and instead of gathering his metal around him, he drops it.

Kellan’s cock breaches my entrance, then pushes into me inch by inch, forcing the air from my lungs on another low groan.

I’m not using them anyway, not while Aiden seems to be at a disadvantage.

Until he dodges the first one, uses the momentum from the next one to shove them past him, trips the third one, and on and on, as he fights the ones who’d abandoned using their gifts in the hopes that hand-to-hand fighting might give them an edge.

Oh, fuck. I need Kellan to move.

I need friction. I push my ass into him, grinding back and jerking forward, my hands gripping the window ledge.

“Seen enough? This isn’t one-way glass, so if you want me to fuck you, we’ll have to leave.”

I curse him, torn between the two options.

Kellan undulates his hips, his dick pressing against my inner walls and making my knees weak.

Fuck.

Aiden keeps fighting, and my chest heaves as I struggle to stay and watch, but Kellan’s teasing escalates when he lazily circles my clit.

“Let’s go, you fucking prick,” I snap.

He fixes himself and then me, offering me a savage grin before dragging me back to the elevator.

We don’t even bother trying to make it to the Loft.

A few seconds after the elevator moves, Kellan smacks the stop button and shreds my underwear off, lifting me and impaling me against the wall.

I cry out, my legs winding around his waist and my hands grabbing his hair and shoulder as he drives into me, his cock scouring against my inner walls and sending me into a climax that has me seeing stars.

He continues to thrust through it, my body twitching and clenching over him, but he’s not finished with me yet.

“One more time, beautiful. Your pussy’s begging for more. I can feel it gushing around my dick. Tell me how much you liked me fucking you while you watched Aiden. Should we tell him about it? Do you think he’ll get jealous and punish you for it?”

My core squeezes his shaft, and he groans, cursing.

“Fuck, you filthy girl. You want him to punish you that badly? Should we get into some more trouble, then?”

His thumb circles and kneads my clit, winding my muscles tighter and tighter, his words fueling me until I break for him again, my body grabbing his in waves until he yanks me down his cock one last time, burying himself as he comes with me.