I have to touch her.
I have to taste her.
God give me the strength to endure this because I’m a second away from imploding.
Universal
Emily
He tastes like stars. He tastes like hypergiant suns and supernovas all rolled up into one giant galaxy just waiting to be explored. When he kisses me I’m lost in a state of vertigo. The floor disappears and we defy gravity the moment our lips touch. He’s so hypnotizing, like the swirling center of the Milky Way, and, just like the universe, he’s overwhelming… in the best way possible.
I collapse further against the wall, surrendering to the onslaught of sensations. The electricity that began sizzling between us a moment ago is now crackling and popping throughout the tunnel, exciting me like a child with pop rocks on the tip of her tongue.
The last time I touched him like this I was too drunk to remember it fully, but this time, this time every feeling, every touch, and every emotion is being permanently engraved into my brain.
Though his mouth and his hands are working me into a freaking frenzy, he makes no move to tear my clothes from my body and spread my legs like the covers of a book. He’s vigorous one moment and smooth the next. It’s like his mind is fighting his body against sex. I know he wants it, but he’s holding back. I don’t know how much longer he can hold out with this magnetic current we’ve created coursing back and forth between us.
I gasp and he kisses me harder as his thigh tenses against my incredibly wet and swollen pussy, snapping me from my thoughts. His thick, hard cock presses into my belly while his hands slide to my hips. Jai flexes his thigh again and an intense shiver rips through me, almost causing my legs to buckle.
“You like that, huh?” He asks, breaking the kiss.
His voice is devilishly low and rough, and I nod, my pulse hammering through my veins.
“You need this? You need me?”
Oh, fucking fuck. “Yes... please. Please.”
I sound pathetic. My voice is barely heard over my ragged breaths—even in my own head.
“You can’t have me, Kitten. Not today.”
I open my mouth to protest, but he swiftly plants a wet kiss on my lips, silencing me.
“But I can give you want you want.” He whispers into my mouth before pulling away.
The tips of our noses touch as he slowly, expertly, glides a hand over my belly before lowering his thigh and slipping his fingers under the waistband of my shorts. Blood rushes in my ears and my chest heaves in anticipation, but I can’t look away from his eyes. I want to see them darken as he slips his fingers into my pussy and feels how wet I am for him.
And I am wet.
So fucking wet.
Impatiently, I press my hips forward as the tips of his fingers trace the hem of my panties. I only have one pair of underwear so most days I walk around without them until they’re washed and dried. I hate that today is one of those days my panties are clean and dry. Why couldn’t I’ve had my shit together tomorrow? Why today?
As the tip of his index finger hooks under the hem, I tense.
Bush.
How embarrassing. I’m not exactly sporting a full bush just yet, but I haven’t been able to shave in a while. What if he doesn’t like it? The last time he touched me there I was clean shaven.
He slips a little further, moving through my pubic hair without a flinch. As he reaches the lips, he moans and drops his head back.
“Jesus Christ. You’re killing me, Em.”
The lump in his throat bobs as he swallows hard and my confidence begins to rebuild itself. I guess he doesn’t care that I have hair.
A calloused finger gently teases my closed lips, the slightest lick of rough skin breaking through just enough to kiss my sensitive clit. A second finger joins it and he spreads me open before sliding them between my creases. I shiver and shudder as he glides his fingers up and down my engorged pussy. His heavy breath hits my face. Mine hits his. Hot surges of arousal roll through my stomach and I tilt my hips every time the tips of his fingers brush my opening.
“You don’t want to fuck me, Stone?” I ask, my heavy lidded eyes threatening to close completely.
God, I want him to fuck me.
Bare.
I want to put his cock in my mouth and trace the veins with my tongue. Then I want him to fuck me between my tits. I want to see his dick slide between the flesh right before he drags his pulsing cock down my stomach to my pussy and fucks me there too.
With a smirk on his lips, he presses a thick finger to my opening and lets it slide in to his first knuckle. It’s sweet fucking torture. I try to sink lower onto his hand, but somehow, he manages to keep me at teasing distance.
“Grab my cock, Kitten.”
Maintaining eye contact, I do as I’m told. I reach down and grab his cock. He’s hard.
Incredibly hard.
White hot arousal floods from my core and he smirks as it leaks onto his finger. He swirls it around before pushing the wetness onto my clit. My knees almost buckle.
“You feel how hard I am?”
I nod. “Yes.”
“I want to fuck you. I want to fuck you as hard as I can, all day and all fucking night, but I can’t. Not here.”
My breath hitches as both his thick, calloused fingers slide inside of me.
“All day and all night, huh?” I pant, whimpering when his fingers hit the right spot. “You better make good on that.”
He curls his fingers and I grips his shoulders so tightly, my knuckles go white.
“I will. As soon as I get us out of here.”
I rake my teeth over my bottom lip and quiver. Wait. What? Get us out of here? I don’t have time to chase my train of thought before my stomach begins to twist uncomfortably as I barrel toward my climax.
“You’re going to come for me?”
His voice, the pained huskiness of it, is the tip of the orgasm iceberg and I hit it, like the Titanic, and split in two. Jai shoves his mouth against mine, greedily inhaling my moans of pleasure. I twist my fingers through his dark, spikey hair as my climax violently rips through me. The unbearable heat of my orgasm pulses mercilessly through my center, and my wetness leaks around Jai’s fingers as I slide my tongue against his.
Soon enough, the heat releases me and my tongue slows to a lazy, languid pace. Jai catches my lower lip between his teeth and I wince as he bites down before planting a soft kiss and pulling away. As he slips his fingers from between my legs and removes his hands from my pants, my sizzling blood lessens to a simmer.
“Enjoy yourself?”
I smile and nod, leaning lazily against the wall. My entire body is weak and mushy, and I sigh as I close my eyes. Wait! My eyes shoot open.
“Get us out of here!” I blurt, my voice a hushed whisper.
Jai cocks a brow as he adjusts his sweatpants, looking at me like I’ve lost my mind. I did. But it was only temporary. Now my mind is as clear as day.
“You said: as soon as you get us out of here.”
He nods once, raking a hand through his hair. “I did.”
His hair, now in disarray, gives him a devastating sex appeal as some strands stand proudly while others rest flat against his damp forehead.
“Well?”
He plants his hands on the wall either side of my head. “Well, what?”
“Well, aren’t you going to tell me what it is you’re planning, exactly?” I inch closer, my voice quieter than a whisper. “You have a gun and I deserve to know what you’re going to do with it, especially if I’m included in this ‘escape’ plan of yours.”
“The less you know, the better,” he simply states.
“You can’t be serious?”
“Once we’re through with round two I’ll get us out of here. I know someone who can help.”
Subtle cheering rings through the tunnels, signaling the beginning of a fight. Our eyes remain locked, brown on blue, neither one of us backing down.
I wasn’t plan
ning on telling Jai that Skull has offered me a way out of round two, but I can’t avoid it. Not now.
I swallow and shift my stare. A sign of guilt. His jaw clenches. He knows it too.
“What if I’ve found a way to make it through all of this—all of the rounds—safely,” I say.
He frowns. “What are you talking about?”
“Skull.”
Jai bristles at the mention of his name.
“If I give him information about you, he’ll give me a pass on every round...and a one way plane ticket when it’s over.”
His dark, blue eyes search mine. “If you believe him you’re stupider than I thought.”
“Jai—”
I flinch as he slaps his palm against the concrete beside my head.
“No!” He snarls, sending my heart crashing into my ribs. “You should know better! You think you’re going to walk away from this unscathed? As long as he’s alive we’re as good as dead. Do you understand?”
He’s right. I know it. I know I’m not going to live through this regardless of who I put my trust in. On the contrary, at least I don’t have to fight if I team with Skull...but then I’d be teaming with the bad guys, and I’d rather die with a clean conscience than live a sad, heavy life, weighed down by guilt. I nod and duck under his arm. Skull will no doubt be expecting to see my face amongst the crowd. I turn toward the entrance to our nook. Outside, the cheering grows louder as more people join the crowd. I barely make a step before Jai snatches my elbow in his hand, forcing me to stop.
“You mentioned a plane ticket? Where do you plan on going to?”
I glance over my shoulder with a shrug. He looks so handsome when he’s worried.
“Italy.”
He tugs me back and I turn, stumbling into him. His large hands run up my forearms, over my elbows, and along my biceps. His strong fingers brush my neck before he cups my face in his large, warm hands. Every pore in my body jumps to attention.
“After my fight, be ready. You don’t have to negotiate deals with Skull. I’ll get you out of here... I’ll get you to Italy.”
“I don’t want your money, Jai. It doesn’t feel right.”
He takes offense, his face pinching into a beautiful scowl. “But you’ll take his?”
Didn’t Robin Hood take from the rich to give to the poor? It’s the same thing. Skull is rich and I’m poor. Skull is also a bad person. Everything he has, he’s robbed and murdered to get. I have no issues taking from him.
“He doesn’t deserve his, and I have no reservations in taking from him.”
His grip tightens on my face. “You think all of that comes free? Soon he’ll have you ratting me out for a new pair of shoes. The gifts, the money… they will consume you. Don’t make owning yourself so damn easy, Kitten.”
That’s what he thinks? That a few shiny gifts will be enough to coerce me into betraying him? I don’t need money. Jewelry and clothing don’t buy my loyalty. My loyalty is earned, not bought.
I pull my face from his hands and tap the tender tattoo on my collarbone. “He already owns me, Jai. I have no choice but to do whatever the fuck he wants.”
His eyes flick between mine, his searing stare penetrating my skin. He’s still sexy when he’s mad. His face doesn’t contort in frustration. It remains smooth, but his aggression still manages to seep through. ‘Resting bitch face’ is what the nurses at the hospital called it. I turn away from Jai a second time and walk away. I manage to make it just outside the entrance before he calls my name. I glance over my shoulder.
“When you see Skull next, you’ll tell him I’m here for my brother, and I’m not leaving without him.”
I frown. “And then what?”
Lifting his arms over his head, he pulls on the back of his shirt before tugging it over his head. His slick, muscular torso is shown to me. Rivulets of sweat cling to his body and his sweatpants hang low on his narrow hips.
“Don’t worry. I have a plan.”
Worry downturns my lips. Don’t worry? Why does that automatically push me into worry mode? Heavy tendrils of dread burrow through my stomach.
“I hope you know what you’re doing, Stone.” I mutter to myself as I push off my back foot and head toward the main tunnel.
I hope you know what you’re doing.
* * * *
My lips tremble and my heart thrums in my chest, pounding like the hooves of a horse on a racetrack. The smell of blood invades my nose as it sprays from the cage.
Hell. That’s where I am. I’m in the deepest, darkest pits of it, surrounded by the festering souls of hardened criminals.
They cheer on the lean man covered in barbed wire tattoos and thick, angry scars—Shadow, is what they call him—while I fight the urge to shield my eyes and block my ears.
Demons. That’s what these people are.
I flinch as Shadow’s opponent crashes to the canvas and scurries backward on his ass with his bloody palm outstretched, raised in surrender.
“Please!” He begs, blood running from his swollen eye, his crooked nose and his busted mouth. “Don’t kill me.”
Shadow has toyed with him the whole fight, causing the man immense pain and refusing to end it with a simple knock out. The crowd loves it.
Skull loves it.
I detest it. It makes me sick.
I reach out and brush Jai’s arm and he brings his ear to my mouth. While he’s close, I breathe in his scent. It’s warm in my nose...and comforting.
“What’s his name?” I manage to choke out. “The one on the floor.”
He moves his mouth to my ear. “Stefan.”
Shadow slaps Stefan’s begging hand away and swiftly sends a large fist into his nose. The sound of a defeating crack slices down my spine, making me shiver.
More blood.
Stefan’s body shakes with sobs, painfully twisting my heart in my chest. I clench at my ribs and stuff the tip of my thumb into my mouth to gnaw at the skin since my tidy, clipped nails are long gone. The crowd cheers for Shadow, oblivious to the fact one of them will fight him next round. I pity whoever goes up against a monster who has no compassion. To toy with a human being the way he is...I swallow a sob and clench my jaw, pressing my tongue to the roof of my mouth. I won’t cry.
Blood soaks Stefan’s grizzly, brown beard and drips off the ends of its stray hairs. He no longer pleads for his life. His body has accepted defeat. Stefan hangs his head and cries.
Actually. Fucking. Cries.
Hysterically. Begging Shadow for death.
I look up to the ledge only to see Skull beam proudly down at Shadow. Skull and Shadow, a match made in heaven. Skull’s eyes flick from Shadow to me, and I almost flinch at the sight of him. The skull...I’ll never get used to it.
A tear spills from my eye. How can he watch this? How can he be proud of such a maniac? Shadow probably eats baby birds for breakfast and washes them down with newborn tears. How can you trust a man who can take a life for money? Money makes him loyal. Not respect.
Skull runs his pink, glistening tongue over his bottom lip and smiles a full smile.
I look away. I hate him.
“What’s wrong with her?” I hear the low tone of a husky female voice ask.
Ava. Great.
I swipe at the tear that spills down my cheek. Jai turns sideways to talk to Ava and that’s when I move. Unexpected, pent up rage boils in my blood and seeps from my pores. The wire structure in front of me shakes as Shadow parades around the cage like he deserves the cheers that chant his name. As I march, I hear people talk. They refer to Shadow as God. He’s no God. He’s a brute with an anger problem. Don’t get it twisted. I’m terrified of him, but I’m more terrified for Stefan. If he’s going to die today, he should die knowing someone cares...that someone defended him and cried for him in his last few moments.
I shove my way through the crowd, dodging hands and catching stray elbows. None of them notice me, they’re too caught up in the moment, and I make it to the railin
g that separates me from the cage and a long drop to my death in no time.
“Emily!” Jai calls out from somewhere behind me.
I barely hear it over the cheering and chanting.
“Stefan!” I shout, gripping the railing tighter. It turns warm under my sweaty palms. “Stefan, look at me!”
As he lifts his head in my direction, I try hard not to puke. One eye is swollen shut and the other...my chest heaves. His sclera is no longer white. It’s a red so dark that it blends with his black pupil. He struggles to breathe, struggles to move...he must be petrified.
“It’s okay.” I tell him, offering a genuine smile. “You’re going to be just fine.”
“Just fine?” Shadow booms. He tosses his head back and exposes his teeth as he laughs a heavy laugh.
I ignore him, keeping my eyes on Stefan. He watches me back as he focuses on breathing. Tears from his eyes merge with the blood, creating pale red streaks along his cheeks. Surely his vital organs are filling with blood... I give him ten more minutes before his body goes into shock.
Shadow crouches beside Stefan and I finally lift my gaze to his face. Stefan whimpers and closes his eye as Shadow fists his brown, curly hair and yanks his head back. Slowly, I drag my stare to Skull. I didn’t realize it until now that the room is silent.
“You call this a fight? There’s no fairness in this,” I shout up at Skull.
Gasps and whispers break out behind me and I realize in this moment that I’ve fucked up. Dread; heavy curls of it seize my chest, but I don’t let it cross onto my features. I’m a dead girl walking on borrowed time anyway.
Fuck them all for being so afraid, for being sheep. In a room full of experienced fighters, how am I the strongest? Not physically of course. My strength doesn’t come from developed biceps or hard quadriceps. It comes from within. Unlike their bodies, my strength is unbreakable.
Untouchable.
Skull glares down at me. His jaw ticking underneath his ink. I look at Shadow. He’s sneering at me, his beady black eyes sending chills down my spine.
I square my shoulders and angle my chin up. “You’re weak.”