Crowed (Team Zero #2) - Rina Kent Page 0,38

all around him. The impact is so much more intense than earlier. So fulfilling, I don’t want to come down to the world of the living. I clench around him with so much force, he curses, his face morphing into ecstasy.

I’m still blown away by the waves when Crow grunts from the back of his throat and spills inside me.

We shatter together. Something breaks as our bodies mingle into each other. The flow of flooding energy and emotions between us is like breathing life into one another.

Still panting, Crow flips me over so he’s on his back and I’m lying on top of him.

We lie in each other’s arms, breathing heavily, with him still seated deep inside me. I rest my cheek in the crook of his neck, deeply inhaling his leather scent. My fingertips trace the side of his muscles where the little birds take flight.

“What do the birds mean?” I murmur.

His finger traces the line of my shoulder. “Why do you think they mean something?”

“I kind of guessed it.” I smile up at him and get caught by those blond strands falling over his forehead.

“It’s my age.”

“Thirty-six.” My cheeks redden and quickly follow up with, “Not that I have been counting.”

“You’re so fucking adorable.” He kisses the top of my head and I melt.

“Why did you tattoo your age?” I ask, still tracing the birds.

“It was the only thing I remembered since I was kidnapped. Probably because I engraved it in my skin before they gave us Omega. It’s the only thing I’m sure about.”

My chest squeezes so hard, tears spring to my eyes. It’d be a lie to say I hate my father. He was absent most of the time, but he was my father. I can’t just hate him, but I hate everything he’s done to Crow. I despise and loathe him for it.

I stroke Crow’s chest and murmur, “I’m so sorry for what my father did to you.”

“Why are you apologising for something you didn’t do?”

“I’m his daughter and –”

“You have nothing to do with what he’s done. Team Zero needs to understand that, too.” His arm tightens around my waist, it’s almost painful as he growls. “I would kill them all for you.”

I close my eyes, snuggling closer to him.

Crow didn’t only make me forget death as he promised, but he also made me want to battle it.

I want to live. And I want to live with him.

Crow

Eloise’s warm body is entangled around mine.

I tilt my head back to stare at her sleeping face. With each second I get trapped in her tiny features, I become sure about two things. One: she looks so fucking beautiful when asleep. Two: I would do anything to keep that peaceful expression on her face.

I brush a strand of hair from her cheek, fingers gliding on her soft skin. What had I done to deserve someone like her? I sigh. I can’t get enough of her. I can’t stop touching her. I can’t even remember my fucking life before her.

She got under my skin so easily, so effortlessly, like she has always belonged there.

Now it’s my job to protect her. Even if it means my own fucking death.

And I did mean it about kidnapping her. If she continues being stubborn, I’ll throw her tiny body over my shoulders and get the fuck out of here.

Eloise stirs, her fingers brushing against my bare chest as she moans in her sleep. The sound springs my erection to life all over again. I groan. There she is, fast asleep, not paying the slightest attention to the effect she has on me.

Cheerio trots inside, her tail wiggling back and forth. She tugs on the edge of the sheet. When I ignore her, she woofs.

“Shush.” I put a finger on my lips. “Let her sleep.”

The dog huffs and nudges my leg. She must be really hungry.

With a groan, I slip from underneath the sheets and carefully place Eloise’s head on the pillow. Thankfully, she remains asleep.

Cheerio runs ahead of me towards the kitchen, still wiggling her tail.

I can’t believe I’ve become a fucking dog’s caregiver.

After I dig into the cupboard under the sink, I find the dog treats and fill Charlotte’s bowl until it overflows. She won’t be bothering us for a while. Then, I head back to the stairs. I only left Eloise a few minutes ago, but it feels like an eternity.

I’m so fucking screwed over this woman.

A breeze comes from the open window, bringing in the chill of a summer