Nightchaser - Amanda Bouchet Page 0,132

finally seated fully within me. My body adjusted to him quickly.

“I want to do this every day,” I said.

“Baby, we can do this ten times a day, upside down, tangled up, and hanging from the ceiling if you want.”

I smiled. All that sounded promising.

He flexed his hips back and then thrust deep between my legs. I gasped. It felt so good. He did it again, harder, and stars burst behind my lids.

Shade lowered his head and kissed me so completely that I almost couldn’t breathe. “Tied up. Tied down. Blindfolded. Hands and knees. Whatever the fuck you want,” he said, pumping into me with each promise.

The possibilities flashed before me. So much to explore. I started to pant and writhe, arching into sensations that were building almost too quickly. I chased them, greedy, even though I wanted this to last.

Shade thrust harder, his movements less controlled now. I rose up to meet him, matching his pace and driving him on.

I whispered his name. Shade groaned mine. I locked my legs around his waist and gripped his back. He was sweat-slicked and trembling and so hard inside me that he felt like hot steel and smooth rock.

“Not gonna last, baby,” he said. “Not when you’re so wild and hot.”

I grabbed his short hair and pulled.

“Yes…” He panted against my neck.

Shade shifted his weight to one arm and then palmed my breast. The pad of his thumb found my nipple, and he pressed, the steady pressure traveling straight to my core and tightening the quivering muscles there. Abruptly, he gathered the taut bead between his fingers and pinched. I yelled and came like a nuclear blast.

Shade followed me over the edge, his hips moving in hard jerks. The tension in our bodies slowly unraveled, and we sank into the mattress together, both of us breathing hard.

“Holy Sky Mother,” he finally mumbled. “I think you wiped me out.”

I laughed. “I hope not. You promised we could do that again.”

He grinned, lifting some of his weight off me. I pulled him back down, enjoying the press of him against my skin.

Shade gave in to my unspoken demand while still making sure he didn’t crush me. “I would suggest another shower after that, but there’s no fucking way I’m going through that again.”

I clamped my lips together, trying to keep my smile to a minimum. I probably should have warned him about that.

“May I have permission to make another change, Captain?” Shade asked.

Warmth swirled through me. “Permission to ask, Bedroom Captain.”

The corners of his mouth curled up. “Does this fold have a mattress that would fit both of us?”

My heart fluttered a little wildly. “The Fold has everything.”

Shade rolled over, dragging me mostly on top of him and trying to keep us both comfortable on my narrow bed. His hand swept down my back and stayed on the curve of my bottom.

“Then how about a bed for two?” he quietly asked.

I lifted my head, something clenching in my chest.

The brown eyes searching my face darkened with sudden hesitation. “I don’t want to assume…”

I leaned forward and kissed him. “Spoil me. I’m game.”

The words blood money popped into my head, but I pushed them aside.

“Good.” Shade gave my rear end a light squeeze.

His touch stirred sensations that were still alive inside me, and I almost told him I was game for more right now, but Shade looked exhausted.

“What’s that secret smile about?” he asked, his eyes narrowing on me.

“Nothing.” I kissed him again. “Just rest.”

He grunted a little suspiciously but then got comfortable with me beside him, relaxing like a man utterly ready for sleep. I threw my leg over his, making sure he didn’t go anywhere. Or fall off the bed.

A secret sort of smile suddenly curved his lips.

“What?” I asked.

“Nothing, cavewoman. Go to sleep.”

“Cavewoman?”

Still smiling, Shade didn’t explain, and I hmphed, letting it go.

A moment later, Bonk jumped back onto the bed. He took the spot above our heads, commandeering most of the pillow. We both wiggled down, making room for him.

“Make that a bed for three,” I said, not even remotely kidding.

“Noted.” Shade kissed my temple, brushing his lips against my hair and skin and breathing me in.

A contented sigh whispered out of me, and I closed my eyes, knowing I would easily drift back to sleep. Later was for dangerous serums, filling more blood bags, meeting with the rebel leaders, and facing what came next. Now was for Shade and me.

Paws started kneading the top of my head. A little engine revved up.

I smiled, revising my earlier thought. Now was for Shade, me, and, apparently, Bonk. Which was perfect.

Epilogue

The following day…

My booted footsteps rang out loudly on the grated metal flooring of Spacedock 1, the innermost station of the Fold. Shade, Jax, Fiona, and Merrick strode next to me, turning us into a veritable chorus of thuds.

I had five vials of the super soldier serum in my pack and a lead weight on my chest.

Would the enhancer help us to even the odds? Maybe even give us an edge?

Or would turning it over to the rebel leaders just send everything spiraling out of control?

Nothing came without a cost. I just wondered who would be paying up.

Possibly everyone.

I glanced at Shade. He caught my eye and gave me a quick nod back. Reassuring. A little grim. He understood the stakes.

Rebel Command Center loomed before us, blocked by a huge, guarded door I’d been through only twice before.

Maybe we needed to lose control. Maybe that was what it would take to bring the Overseer down, not just be a thorn in his side.

I figured we’d find out soon, because I was about to light the fuse on enough explosives to blow the galaxy apart.