“Like hell you don’t,” I growl, get my hand under his pelvis, and grip the undeniable evidence. His cock jerks in my hand. “Are you ready to stop with these fucking games, Vincent?” Istroke him and rock slowly. “She wove our names onto your back, your most prized possession. She’d known us for one day, Vincent. One goddamn day. And she knew.”
I stroke him more, fisting long and deep and feeling his body language loosen up, his breath growing heavier. Almost to surrender. “And you haven’t removed it. Because you know in that big, thick skull of yours, the only other prized possession you could possibly have.”
“You?” he spits out.
I shrug, smiling down at him and aiming my dick at his anus. “I was going to say my cock, but…”
“Fuck your cock,” he hurls, thrashing again.
I loosen up my grip on the back of his neck so I can dig my fingers into his hair, get a clump, and yank his head back. “Are you ready to drop the act, Vincent? Let go of the fighter. I let go of the soldier. We’re two men, two brothers who share a bond deeper than blood. Two chains in an unbreakable circle of five.”
“Fine, Jude.”
I tilt my head. “What was that?”
He drops his head onto the floor, his voice deep and low. “You’re right, Doctor Dick. You happy now?”
“You wantthisdick?” I touch my crown to his anus. “Want me?”
“Hands, Jude. Later?” He turns his cheek, his brown eyes warmer than I’ve ever seen them. “We’ll figure it out.”
I can live with that.
I get off him, only for him to sucker punch me right in the jaw. My head snaps back, but I laugh, rubbing my chin. Good thing we’re both steel. I’m still laughing when he grips my collar, hauls me forward, and our mouths crash, devouring.
It’s about goddamn time.
42
Seth
WE’RE LIKE THE ULTIMATE CHAIN GANG.
Citizen Soldier Playlist
“Made By Misery”
“This is the only time I will not be mad at you for waking me up in the middle of the night, psycho,” Rory mutters from the front seat of the truck. He’s suppressing his accent more than usual. It’s his way of shaking up a soda can before you open it and let it explode.
Hell, we might even get some Gaelic out of him when we catch up to Briella.
Raphael goes at a decent pace, the high beams turned on, so he can follow the horse tracks.
Normally, Jude rides up front with Raphael, but he and Vincent are sitting next to each other with me opposite in the truck bed. Something happened between them. I can tell, and it’s enough for me to smile.
“Wipe that silly grin off your face, Timber boy,” Vincent grunts, but the tension in his muscles is relaxed.
Jude smirks next to him. I flick my eyes to his and wink. Under his waterproof jacket, Vincent’s still wearing the same hoodie with Briella’s knitting prank all over it.
“I didn’t say anything. Just my usual charming, chipper self,” I say while setting a hand on my newly restored axe. I had to fix every last one and even make a few new ones after Briella.
My chest tightens. She was doing so well. I really thought she’d settled in. Especially after the skunk. Part of me wishes Raphael had let us share more with her.
But over the past couple of weeks, she’s asked no questions. Not for any of us, even though I knew she was dying for more of our histories. Most of her day was spent in the greenhouse with me teaching her a few “fix it” tips in between her and Jude planting. Or she was with Vincent, helping with the animals.
She even watched Rory skin a deer once—and learned how we never let anything go to waste. Hide is tanned for leather, like belts or gloves. I even use some for my axe hilts. Dried tendons for bowstrings or lashing tools. Bones made into helpful tools like awls, needles, fish hooks, etc. We use the fat for waterproofing gear, making candles, soap, or salves.
A sharp breeze kicks up, and I zip up my coat. Thunder rolls in the distance, the clouds spreading a thick blanket over us. Should start raining soon.
