he asked as I fumbled with the button of his pants.
“What do you think I’m doing? I need to feel you, Tallis. I need to know you’re here,” I whispered. Tallis tenderly brushed my hair out of my eyes as he stared down at me with openness and love.
“Is this what you want?” I knew he wasn’t just asking about the physical implications of my desires. He was asking about us.
“Yes,” I whispered as my hands roamed his abs. His back. He sighed, my touch and admission combining into an all-encompassing pleasure that spurred him further.
“Finally,” Tallis groaned, before slowly trailing his lips down my neck and torso. After pausing at my hips, he slid the too-tight leather off my thighs in a slow, teasing rhythm.
“I love you, Agapimenos,” he said. His voice sounded certain and adoring. His penetrating gaze looked to me as if asking one last time if I was ready. If this was what I wanted. If he was what I wanted.
“I want you,” I assured.
That night he carried me to a place of love and adoration. He made me feel treasured, again, and again, and again. We forgot about the world. Forgot about the fears, the abandonment, the future. We settled into the dim, dirty imperfections of our surroundings and brought it to life. He illuminated my soul and I burned brighter than I’ve ever been.
Once he was fast asleep, I nuzzled closer to his chest and I watched his steady breaths. I reveled in the comfort of his arms. Then, once I was sure he couldn’t hear, I said in the faintest of whispers, “I love you too, Scavenger.”
Chapter Eighteen
There was no awkwardness when I woke. I wouldn't shy from his touch or worried about the inevitable downfall. Because when my eyes opened, I knew he would be there.
Except he wasn’t.
I sat up on the dirty couch alone and looked around the room in confusion. Where was Tallis? The sunlight filtered through a cracked window, illuminating the hazy air filled with dust.
“Hey, I didn’t want to wake you, but I got word from Maverick,” Tallis said. His lips were firmly set in a grim line as he handed me water. I gulped it down and adjusted the linen sheet around me while peering up at him. His hair was messy in a sexy way, his neck covered in the remnants of my passionate kisses.
“I’m trying to figure this out, but he sent a one-way signal. I don’t think he wants us to reply and compromise our location,” Tallis said while looking over at me. I patted my messy hair and licked my chapped lips which were bruised and sensitive.
I pulled the Tablet from his hands and read the message.
Dasos Lab. Third Floor. Get Ashleigh out. Lackley created X.
I gasped at the last part. Lackley is responsible for X? For our parent's death? For the collapse of the Empire?
“I’ve spent the morning trying to reach out to Scavengers we have alliances with. Things are going to get messy, fast,” Tallis said while pacing the floor. For a brief moment, I wondered what our morning would be like if we were back in the Scavenger camp. Would he make me breakfast? Would we cuddle in bed together?
“There’s no way we’re going to get them out of there,” I mumbled while finding my pants and slinking them on.
“Maverick doesn’t want us to get them out. He wants us to rescue Agrio,” Tallis said. I froze at the nickname then scowled, the bliss from our night faded into annoyance as I looked at him.
“I’m not risking my life for that Walker.” My tone was short and clipped. I started looking for the rest of my clothes, which were scattered along the uneven floor covered in dust and dirt.
“Why not?” Tallis asked. His blue eyes followed my movements as I searched the safe house.
“Because…” I began while trying to come up with a reasonable explanation for why I had no desire to help her. “…Because she’s not family. Why do I have to help her?”
“She’s important to your brothers,” Tallis replied in a matter-of-fact tone. He crossed his arms over his chest and shuffled his feet.
“Why is she so important to you?” I asked with a frown. I didn’t like the way he picked apart my motives. I didn’t like that he could see me for the person I was. “Aren’t you supposed to agree with me? Aren’t you supposed to say it’s dangerous and I should stay here?”
“If you