Page 186 of The Enforcer

Turned out it could be taught.

Because when Tino said, “I need a shower. We both need a shower, Bri,” she was really insulted by that.

“You wanna wash it away.” She dug her nails into his stomach, holding him there when he would’ve pulled away. “I gave that to you.” She kissed his neck, licking at that tender spot at his hairline. “I want you to appreciate it. If I bleed for you, I want you to say thank you. I don’t want you to run away. I don’t want you to wash it off like it didn’t happen.”

Itwastaught, ’cause Tino understood exactly why she was insulted.

“I appreciate it,” he promised, because bleeding for motherfuckers who didn’t appreciate it was horrible. “I appreciate you.” He turned in her arms and cupped her face, leaving the stain of blood there, but he kissed her rather than flinch away. “Thank you,” he whispered against her lips. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.” She caressed his face again. “I love you.”

He nodded, because it was pretty fucking undeniable, and then promised, “I’d bleed for you too. I’d bleed gallons for you.”

“I know.” She didn’t even try to deny it. “I know you would.”

Brianna rode him the second time, just held him down, all lithe strength and grace, and slid down on his cock because he couldn’t fight her, and she knew it.

“Fuck.” He groaned and turned his head. He didn’t want it to feel that good, but it did. It felt amazing. He couldn’t stop himself from savoring it like he did. He wouldn’t dare diminish it like that. He didn’t fully know how to name the rush of emotions, so he just confessed, “I love you.”

She moved over him again, her fingernails digging into his wrists, and the pleasure was so intense he almost wanted to fight against it, to stop her from making it so fucking good. If only he didn’t know how absolutely horrific it was to give all of himself to someone who didn’t deserve it.

“I fucking love you, Brianna.” Tino said it like a vow, because it was the only thing he had to give back to her. He broke her hold on his wrists to grab her face, forced her down until he was licking at her lips. He brushed his tongue against hers when she parted to him in one of those wet, sexy kisses she’d first begged for in the bunk bed. Then he fisted her hair and totally owned her mouth, taking it like it was his, before he promised, “I wouldn’t just bleed for you.” He sat up and raised his legs to force her tightly against him, letting her be strong because it was important. She had to be strong if he was the one she wanted. “I’d bleed motherfuckers out for you. I’d end worlds for you and fuck what the administration has to say about it.”

She smiled against his lips as he said it, because she’d been in their world too long. She was broken too. For the same messed-up reasons Tino fucked her harder after she bled for him, Brianna smiled when he promised he wouldn’t just bleed for her…he’d kill for her.

Outside the organization.

Without permission.

Against his own fucking brother if he had to.

That was what he was willing to do for the first and only woman he ever let bleed for him. He’d go against his king for her, even if he lost the whole goddamn game in the process. He’d do it without thinking if someone threatened her.

Tino was the kinda guy who needed his queen to win.

Otherwise he’d just fucking lose on purpose.

Not like he didn’t have a lot of practice.

They climaxed together the second time, clinging to each other, moaning into each other’s mouths. The haze of pleasure was just as violent, stealing their breaths until Tino collapsed under her, drained and emotional.

“Don’t tell anyone that last part.” He panted as he fought to get his breath back. “That one’s our secret.”

“Okay,” she agreed as she pressed a smile against his shoulder. “You wanna go take a shower now?”

“Sì, grazie.” He grinned at the ceiling, knowing he probably looked like a fool. “And you’re getting one too, ’cause I know you need it. Dirty girl.”

“You like it.” She giggled. “Tell me.”

“Yeah, I like it,” he had to admit. “I like it a lot.”

Then he gathered her to him and moved to the edge of the bed before he sat up. She wrapped her legs around his back, hooking them together with her ankles as he got up and carried her to the bathroom.

Chapter Forty

For a long time after they got out of the shower, she and Tino stayed in bed. He had really fantastic sheets, like a-billion-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets that probably cost a thousand dollars. The kind of sheets that made Brianna want to lie naked in bed all day.

Tino wasn’t nearly as impressed with the sheets as she was; he just draped himself over her as she stayed sprawled out on her stomach. Sometimes he would press kisses to the back of her neck, but mostly he simply stayed there with her, his head resting on her shoulder, his fingers dancing over the line of her back.