The last few days came crushing down on me. The realization Briana was missing, the police acting as if I was a bother instead of helping me. The horrible interview, then being kidnapped and…
“They tossed me into a cell, treating me like an animal. You know that’s what happened to my sister. And Denise. She wouldn’t keep her mouth shut so they beat her. They used cattle prods. Can you believe that? And yesterday or maybe today—time doesn’t mean anything any longer—another girl was tossed in with me.” Tears were streaming down my face, bitter, ugly, hot tears that I couldn’t control.
My chest heaved as sobs rose from the depths of my soul while visions of my sister and Denise rushed into my mind. Loneliness. Helplessness.
No one to protect or save them.
“What if she dies? What if the others die? What if… They’ll find me. They’ll hunt you. Then what? What? Nobody cares.”
Suddenly, there were arms around me. Strong arms.
With a gentle touch, Kendrick lifted my chin, his eyes dancing across mine. “That’s not going to happen, Reese. And do you want to know why?”
I clung to his shirt, tugging him closer. His warmth felt so good. He was so strong and right there, willing to help. “Why?”
“Because I’m not going to allow it. And the reason is simple. Because I care. I care very much.”
While the haze from my anguish lingered, the ache crippling, I also felt something else.
Another rush.
Another need.
For him.
His touch.
His kiss.
And everything else.
Just then, as if reading my mind, he did the unthinkable.
He crushed his mouth over mine.
CHAPTER 11
Kendrick
I hadn’t intended on touching Reese, at least not intimately. She was under my protection. I’d just made significant promises I feared I couldn’t keep.
My mind had spelled out the requirements of earning her trust, at least enough so she’d feel comfortable in providing information that could help expose the group, putting as many behind bars as possible.
I’d gone over the necessary steps, determining every possible distraction or hindrance tossed my way, including being discovered. What I hadn’t anticipated was the immediate desire, let alone the clear needs that had little to do with protection.
In the moments of pretense inside the club, I’d lost a part of myself, only realizing it when we’d been safely locked inside my car. The truth about my needs was and continued to be alarming. Her touch had awakened something within me, something dark and likely almost as dangerous as what she’d already experienced. Not only because our attraction was sogreat but also because my desires were too intense. Strong enough that I could easily crush her in ways I’d never want.
Mentally.
Emotionally.
Even physically.
Maybe I’d underestimated the needs all men had, had never completely vanished even after aspects of society had altered the initial views. Men’s hungers were primal at best, tempered only when required.
My aching cock was a clear admittance my psyche and basic human needs weren’t far removed from the members of the Privileged.
What in the fuck was I doing?
