She surged to her feet and stepped away from Nash’s supine body, trying not to glance at the front of his compression shorts.
“I forfeit,” she said.
Reece cocked one brow. “You mean you want Nash to tie you up instead?”
“No!” Fairchild blurted, getting flustered. “I mean I’m not going to claim my prize, that’s all.”
“Yes you are,” Reece said.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me, Fairchild. I’m the leader here, and as long as you’re under my command, you’re going to play by the rules. Dutton?”
“Sir?”
“Help Fairchild here tie our friend Nash to the side of the cage.”
Fairchild started to argue, but she bit back her words. Technically, Reece was right. He was the leader of this mission, and she was expected to submit to his commands, same as Dutton, same as Nash.
Once they got to Calyxia, she would be expected to submit in other ways too.
Reluctantly, Fairchild reached down and took hold of Nash’s outstretched arm. Dutton grabbed the other arm, and together they hoisted the fallen Merc back onto his feet. The shit-eating grin was still plastered across his infuriatingly handsome face.
“Come on,” Fairchild growled.
She and Dutton led him over to the side of the octagon and removed his fighting gloves. Then they used his boxing wraps to bind his wrists to the side of the combat cage. They did the same thing with his ankles. When they were finished, Nash was standing with his back against the chain-link, his tattooed arms outstretched on either side of him, his feet bound in place so he couldn’t struggle or kick. The cocky Merc didn’t seem to mind one bit. He was still smiling, and the front of his compression shorts was bulging more than ever.
“Good work,” Reece said, inspecting the knots. He turned to Fairchild and raised his brows. “Now… what are you going to do with him?”
“Leave him tied up while I go get something to eat.”
Fairchild started to head for the exit, but Reece caught her arm. She tensed, remembering the last time he had grabbed her like that in the concourse of the Guild HQ. There was somethingdifferent about him now. Something that made her think twice before going for his throat.
“That’s not going to fly, Fairchild.”
“What do you mean?” she said, glancing at Nash. “I get to do whatever I want with him. That means I can do nothing at all.”
“Whatever youwant,” Reece said, hitting the last word like he was racking a gun. “I don’t believe you’re being completely honest about that part.”
Fairchild said nothing. She couldn’t. Her throat had gone tight all of a sudden.
“Well, if you’re not going to tell me what you want to do with him,” Reece said calmly, “then I’ve got a proposal—I think this is a good opportunity to work on your oral skills.”
“Mywhat?”
“Your oral skills,” Reece repeated. “You heard what Lennox told us. We’re supposed to spend our time in transit practicing—and no offense, Fairchild, but oral is one area where you’ve got some room for improvement.”
Her defiance came surging back. She wrenched her arm out of his grip.
“I didn’t hear Dutton complaining in the briefing room,” she snapped.
“That’s becausehewas the one in control.”
Fairchild blushed as she recalled the way the quiet Merc had used her mouth. A wave of heat filled her. She glanced at Nash, still tied to the wall of the cage.
“This sounds more like a reward for him than for me,” she said.
Reece stepped closer, and he ran his fingers down her spine, making her shiver.
