Tamar

Kage’s smile only widens at my comment. “I’ve never been one to disappoint, kitten.”

The size of his cock has me second guessing my self-imposed celibacy, and though I’d hand most people their head for calling me kitten, I kind of like it coming from him.

Not that I’ll be going down that road anytime soon. I haven’t been with anyone since that horrible night twelve years ago. Not because I don’t want to be, but because no one’s stuck around long enough, and I’m not exactly the sort for a one-night stand. Besides… these days? It’s not as if birth control is readily available, and the last thing I need is to bring a child into this world when I have no guaranteed way of keeping it safe or even fed, for that matter.

“As entertaining as it’d be to keep up our idle chitchat, we’ve got shit to do. The sun’s going down, and we need to get out of here.” Not to mention, I don’t trust myself around him.

There’s something about Kage. He’s clearly done too good a job of distracting me and getting me to drop my guard—and that’s rarely a good thing. I need to stay focused so I don’t get myself or my team killed.

Kage slowly closes the distance between us, as if testing the waters. And I let him, because even if my head is thinking this is a bad idea, my body’s more than a little curious and a whole lot interested. He pushes me back against the counter, caging me in with his strong arms as I perk an eyebrow up at him, a smile tugging at my lips. “What are you up to, Sherlock?”

“Nothing good, kitten.” He lowers his head to mine, nuzzling me, so that his lips are just a breath away, and though he’s close, he keeps our bodies from touching, which only makes me want to feel his hard muscles press against me all the more. He hasn’t even kissed me, and yet it’s all I can do to bite back the moan that wants to escape my lips, the air between us crackling with a sexual energy, unlike anything I’ve ever felt before.

“This isn’t happening.” Yet before my words are even out, I find myself leaning into him, my hands resting on his chest so I can feel the racing beat of his heart, and the tension in his muscles as he holds himself back. And though my head’s telling me that I’m being stupid, and this is only going to lead to trouble, every other part of me wants him to push his luck and kiss me.

“What’s not happening? This?” He brushes his lips against mine in a tease of a kiss that takes every bit of willpower I have not to fist my hands in his T-shirt and pull him to me, to take what I so desperately need. “Or this…?” He trails kisses down my neck, raking his teeth over the delicate skin where my pulse is beating erratically, and when his kisses turn to bites, I feel my body melt against him, a needy moan finally escaping me before I can hold it back.

This man — this stranger — is making me want things I have no right wanting. And we’re playing a dangerous game, though my body is more than willing to let him win, knowing that surrendering to him will give me the sort of pleasure I’ve never had. Because I have no doubt Kage knows his way around a woman’s body, and let’s just say that my first time with a man wasn’t exactly mind-blowing.

Yet a sound has us pulling away, immediately on our guard and weapons drawn, the spell that was woven between us now lost. We take a quick look around to make sure that we’re still alone before finally breathing a sigh of relief.

And though my body is screaming in disappointment, I chastise myself for being a fool, knowing I probably just dodged a bullet. The last thing I need to be doing is complicating matters between us. “Probably just squirrels in the attic or a mouse in the walls.”

He brushes the back of his fingers against my cheek, his touch just a little rough, before letting his hand fall. “I suppose we should grab the gas and the supplies and head back. I don’t think anyone will find us, hidden away as these homes are, but it’s probably best we don’t push our luck. The rest of our crew are liable to kill each other, left to their own devices.”

“Of that I have no doubt. Especially since Benji is capable of pushing everyone’s buttons.” He could easily have both teams wanting to kill him, and they sure as shit wouldn’t even bother giving him the dignity of a shallow grave.

Kage shakes his head, his brow furrowing over darkening blue eyes that are locked on mine. “I like that you’re loyal, but the guy’s an asshole, and he’s constantly questioning your decisions. Shit like that’s going to get you killed. And though it’s not my place to tell you how to run your team, I’d hate to see you get hurt as a result of it. That guy’s ego is going to get you in trouble — and he sure as hell doesn’t share your loyalty.”

I won’t say he’s wrong, but I don’t appreciate being called out on my decision to keep Benji around. I have my reasons. “And you’ve known him… what? A few hours? And dealt with him… ten minutes maybe?”

“Ten minutes was long enough to know that the guy is trouble, and there’s a good chance he’s going to get you killed. I’ve met a lot of guys like him who wanted to join the MC I’m part of. Believe me, they never become a member of any MC for that matter. These fuckers always drag you down with them, and in this day and age, that means you could easily lose your life because of it.” He shakes his head, hefting one of the bags filled with food. “You may think I’m an asshole for pointing out the obvious, but I like you. Probably more than I should. And I’d rather not see you get your head blown off because of that idiotic fucker.”

I suppose it’s nice to know that someone actually cares, since these days, it’s a bit of a rare thing. Everyone’s gone into survival mode, and more often than not, that means everyone’s out for themselves, and to hell with the common good or even common decency. Life is too short, and when it comes to one’s survival, far too many people think that everyone else is the enemy. The fact that Kage doesn’t is a bit of a pleasant surprise since I hadn’t really expected that of him. “If it makes you feel any better, I’m not blind to Benji’s faults. He’s been pushing his luck lately and my patience is wearing thin. But he’s yet to cross that line, so until he does, he stays on my team. My team. My rules. My decision.”

He puts his hands up as if to say he’s not trying to stir up trouble. “I’m not looking for a fight and I’m not looking to piss you off. Just don’t want to see you get hurt.”

Fucking hell. The guy’s messing with my head. Why does he have to care? “It’s sweet of you to worry, but in case it escaped your notice, I can do a decent job taking care of myself.”

He shakes his head with a laugh, abandoning the groceries and closing the distance between us, his strong arm wrapping around my waist and pulling me close. When he speaks, I can feel his warm breath on my cheek, his lips too close to ignore. “I know damn well you can take care of yourself, kitten. But just in case… I’ll have your back.”

Fuck. Why does he have to go and say shit like that?

But before I can get out any type of response, he’s sinking his fingers into my hair and catching my mouth in a brutal kiss that has my body coming alive, his tongue clashing with mine, as my body demands more, refusing to be ignored this time. He swallows my needy cries as I reach down between us to stroke his massive cock, already hard and straining against the zipper of his jeans.

I have visions of him turning me around and bending me over the counter, yanking my jeans down and fucking me, pounding his thick cock into my tight pussy as he holds nothing back. But then he’s pulling away, shaking his head as if to clear it, as my body screams in silent protest, my clit throbbing in search of a relief that’s clearly not going to come unless I take matters into my own hands—literally.

I groan, feeling like a stupid ass fool. Yet before I can curse him to every hell imaginable, he’s holding me close once again, his words but a murmur against my lips. “I want you too fucking much, Tamar.”

“But what? Don’t want to risk dying?” Fuck. Tears sting my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall, even if he’s now cupping my face in both his hands, his eyes on mine as I try and look away.

“Fucking hell, girl. You know it’s not that — and the fact that you think it might be is all the more reason that that fucker, Benji, has to go.” He presses his forehead to mine, his touch gentle and the gesture sweet from a guy like Kage. “You know I want you, but not like this, in the middle of a filthy abandoned kitchen.”

“Well, by all means then. Next time, you’ll have to book us the penthouse suite at the Ritz.” I half expect him to laugh at my joke, which has at least helped me neutralize some of my anger and frustration.

But he doesn’t laugh.

Instead he looks damn serious, his eyes darkening as he takes me in.

“I may not be able to get you the Ritz, but if we can turn in this bounty, we’ll have a house, kitten. And a safe place to live and lay our head.”