“Fine, I’m fine. Are you?” I search him, but he turns away, holding the gun over the door as he returns fire. Sirens fill the air, and a car peels away. He waits before peering over the car, then he turns to me.
“We need to get out of here.” Grabbing my hand, he holds his gun out and walks to the other end of the car, ensuring the coast is clear before he looks at me. “Keep up, okay? Duck if I tell you to.”
I nod woodenly before shaking myself, and we burst into a sprint down the side alley toward my bike. When we reach it, I start the engine with shaking hands and pull him on behind me, and we race away just as cops pull onto the road we were on.
Zia doesn’t put his gun away until we are behind my locked door, and then he’s pacing with his phone out. I stand there, useless and confused.
Shock, I think.
“That’s the street,” he snaps. “Deal with it and find out who the hell is brazen enough to attack me outright like that. I want names before nightfall. Make it happen.” He hangs up and glances at me. His expression softens as he walks my way and cups my face, looking me over. “Are you okay?” His voice is gentle and slow. “Just breathe, Nikko. It’s okay. They won’t come here. I promise you’re safe.”
“Me?” I croak. “What about you?” I grip his jacket and toss it away, tugging his shirt off next as I search for any wounds. All I find are some scrapes on his hands from the glass, but even those small cuts annoy me.
“Nikko. Nikko!” I don’t know how long he’s been repeating my name, but I jerk my head up as he covers my hands. “I’m okay.”
“I could have lost you.” I’m breathing heavily. I don’t know why. Terror grips my heart. I was too late, too stupid. He could have died.
“You didn’t,” he murmurs.
“I could have!” I roar as I stare into his eyes. The idea of him dying makes me want to hit something. I gasp and need . . . something. Anything.
“Nikko,” he murmurs softly. “Really?—”
I cut off his words by pressing my lips to his.
I swallow his gasp and lift his hands as I back him up against the wall. Breaking the kiss, I rip his shirt off, leaving him wide-eyed and unsure as my gaze devours his chest.
“I need to see that you’re okay,” I rasp. His head jerks in a nod as he kisses me. My hands slide down, unbuckle his pants, and shove them down. His moan is so hot in my mouth, desperation to claim him fills me.
Spinning him, I yank his boxers down and kick his legs apart. His palms hit the wall as he pants, his eyes wide as he looks over his shoulder at me. I’m never this rough, but I can’t stop as I unzip my jeans and take out my length. Lining up with his tight ass, I slam into him in one smooth move. His yell is muffled by the wall as I slide my hands up his arms and lace my fingers with his.
“Nikko . . .” His tight, hot ass grips my length as I hammer into him, my grunts mixing with his moans as I nip his neck. He pushes back, taking me just as ruthlessly before he kicks me back.
I stumble backwards from the unexpected movement, tripping over my own pants, and I go down, hard. Blinking, I stare up at him as he spins and drops to his knees. Zia climbs up my body until his lips reach mine, and he kisses me as he straddles my waist. I grip his hips, urging him on as he lowers onto my length, taking every inch of me. His groan echoes in my mouth as he starts to ride me hard and fast, our kiss breaking as he pushes me back. His nails dig into my chest, marking me as I hiss.
He rides me like it’s the first or last time, touching every inch of meas he goes wild. I meet him halfway, just as feral, but there’s an edge to his movements.
“Baby,” I growl as pleasure spirals through me. I try to slow him down, but he ignores me, moving faster. “Shit, Zia, I’ll?—”
My words end in a groan as my release explodes through me. Lifting up, I bury myself as deep as I can inside him and come, my eyes rolling back. I hear him cry out as he shudders, his release splashing across us before he slumps in my arms.
Groaning, I try to hold him, but my arms and legs won’t work properly yet. He lifts himself from me and collapses next to me.
“Shit,” he murmurs, my arms and legs tangled over him. “I should get shot at every day.”
“Me too.” My grunt is loud when he hits my chest, his glare aimed at me as I blink at him.
“Don’t even joke like that. I couldn’t handle something happening to you.” There’s something in his voice that makes me frown and sit up, the afterglow fading as I cup his face.
“We’re fine.” He nods and forces a smile, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. Stumbling to my feet, I scoop him into my arms and carry us to the bedroom. Once there, I drop him on the bed and climb in behind him, pulling him into my arms.
“Let’s rest a little,” I suggest as I kiss his neck, “then I’ll cook you some food and show you just how okay we are.”
“Deal,” he whispers, covering my hand with his, but he’s stiff in my arms.
I don’t want to close my eyes, afraid if I sleep, he might disappear when I do. I force them to stay open, even as they burn, while sleep tries to claim me, but I can’t fight it anymore.
I fall under, my last sight of him.
