Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 42128 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 211(@200wpm)___ 169(@250wpm)___ 140(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42128 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 211(@200wpm)___ 169(@250wpm)___ 140(@300wpm)
“Fuck, you feel good underneath me,” he rasped, his voice rough with need. “So soft and sweet. I’ve been dying to get my hands on you.”
His mouth crashed down on mine in a consuming kiss. The hungry strokes of his tongue stole my breath and made me moan into his mouth. His hands roamed my body, squeezing my breasts before sliding under my shirt to palm my bare skin. Then he gripped my butt as he ground his hard-on against me in slow rolls of his hips.
I was burning up, my fear completely burned away by desire. Wrapping my legs around his waist, I pulled him closer, lost in the sheer power he held so carefully in check.
Soren broke the kiss just enough to growl against my lips, “That’s it, baby. Grind that pretty pussy on me. Let me feel how wet you’re getting.”
I moaned helplessly, rolling my hips to meet his thrusts. The friction was turning me on so much. His hand slipped between us, cupping me possessively over my panties.
But just as I started tugging at his shirt, desperate for more, Soren suddenly stilled. He pulled back slightly, breathing hard, his eyes dark with lust as he looked down at me.
“No,” he rasped, his voice strained but firm. “Not like this.”
I blinked up at him, dazed and aching.
He brushed damp hair back from my forehead, his touch tender. “When I take you, I want you fully present—not coming down from a nightmare. You won’t be riding adrenaline or fear. I want you clear-headed and begging for my cock because you need it, not because you’re trying to forget.”
He rolled us so I was tucked against his chest, his arms locked around me once more. My heart continued to race, and my body buzzed with unfulfilled need, but I felt completely safe wrapped up in him.
I pressed my face into his neck, overwhelmed by everything I was feeling. Soren had pulled me out of hell, protected me…and now he was denying himself because he cared about doing this right.
I didn’t know what to do with how much that meant to me.
8
REV
The following morning, I sat around the conference table in Kane’s office. Nursing a steaming mug of coffee, I waited as my brothers settled into their spots. The room held the kind of palpable focus that always came when we were working through the details of a threat.
Cage leaned forward, his medical notes spread out in front of him as he began to speak. He detailed the blood tests he’d run on Delaney, noting carefully the specific sedatives Magnus had used on her—high-grade tranquilizers meant to immobilize without long-term damage, typically reserved for medical or veterinary practices. Cage’s jaw flexed as he described how dangerously precise the dosage had been, enough to render her compliant without risking her life. This had been on top of the chloroform he’d put over her face both times that she’d been moved.
My chest tightened with fury as I absorbed the information. Magnus had meticulously planned every fucking detail. It was too specific. Almost rehearsed.
I was convinced that this hadn’t been the first time he’d done this. He’d obviously already worked out the kinks in his plan on previous victims. A theory that was also supported by his having a secondary location.
Jax shifted in his seat, his glasses reflecting the blue light from the tablet he scanned with close scrutiny. He shook his head, clearly irritated by what he’d discovered. “Magnus has gone completely dark. Phone’s off, no credit card activity, nothing popping on the usual channels. Bastard dropped off the grid as soon as Rev took Delaney off the road.”
Shifter scoffed, leaning back in his chair. “Fucker’s running scared now that he knows we have Delaney.”
Edge snorted, flipping a blade between his fingers. “Yeah, well, good luck hiding from us for long. Fuckers always surface eventually. Probably curled up somewhere crying because Rev ruined his plans.”
Apex leaned back comfortably in his chair, a laptop balanced easily on his thigh as he picked up from there. “I found financial anomalies tied to the museum and Magnus. Purchases of preservation supplies that don’t match inventory lists, rental payments funneling through a burner LLC, and significant grant money diverted quietly through small historical restoration accounts. He was careful, but it’s there.”
Kane listened quietly, absorbing everything before finally speaking. “Delaney’s awake and recovering?”
I nodded.
“If she’s up to it, we could use her historical expertise. Magnus is clearly leaning on symbolism and history for whatever sick ritual he’s conducting. She might be able to help us profile him more precisely.”
I hesitated only a fraction of a second, the instinct to protect Delaney warring fiercely with the practical need to end this threat. But she’d shown me her strength and intelligence, and I knew damn well she’d want to help if she could.