Page 69 of Power of Shadow

Her lips open, close, and open again, as if she wants to say something. After a moment, her words hit me. “Are you a virgin?”

I blink, not understanding her train of thought. “Is there anything wrong with that”

“No.” She shakes her head. “Nothing like that.”

A small smile escapes me. I’m thirty-one years old, and at this age, being a virgin would make me a real unicorn. My fingers brush a strand of hair from her forehead and tuck it behind her ear. “I was kidding, my Little Killer. I don’t want to fuck you in a hurry. I want to have the time and opportunity to bring you to a dozen orgasms so that you writhe beneath me, moaning and begging for a little peace—”

“Fuck,” she whispers and rubs against me again.

I bite my lip, grab her hips, and hold her in place. “Don’t.”

“It’s not my fault your dirty mouth is doing something to my body.” She says this with an innocent look.

I lean a bit. “You haven’t seen anything yet, baby. Be patient.” I kiss the spot under her ear, which officially becomes my new favorite, and she pouts. “Let’s get back to Baker. Do we have a deal? Whichever one of us kills him, we work together?”

Ash turns her head and looks out the window. She bites her lower lip, considering my proposal. I’m prepared to continue persuading her when she looks, and then she nods. “Okay. On one condition.”

“What is it?”

“You’ll tell me about the Pact.”

The training I’ve had since childhood to keep a straight face is proving useful. Just like now. I don’t even blink when I hear what she expects of me.

I hope that when she hears the truth, I won’t lose her before I even have a chance to make her mine.

Chapter 15

Ashley

“You know about the Pact,” Ryker states, without batting an eye. He’s like an impassive rock. “Why am I not surprised?”

“Because you know I’m smart?”

“You are. But that knowledge could kill you. You know that?” A wrinkle appears between his eyebrows.

“I’m already a walking corpse. We all are. We all have a date written on our hearts. Sometimes knowing what surrounds us saves our lives instead of killing us.”

“Tell me first what you found out on your own?” He’s trying to connect with me, and I don’t like it at all.

I’m about to take my hands off his stomach and return to my seat, but he stops me. His hands press mine in the same place.

His abs tense under my touch. Through his shirt, I feel the heat radiating from him. The urge to slide my hands under the fabric, touch his skin, taste it, is overwhelming.

Get a grip, damn it!

“If this is what our work together is going to be like, then I’ll pass. I don’t need you for this,” I say with anger.

“Whoa, calm down, my Little Killer. I didn’t want to test you, just fill in the gaps. At least as much as I can tell you.” Ryker’s eyes soften. “Why do you want to know about the Pact?”

Take a deep breath. Maybe I really am overreacting? Distrust has been permanent in my life. It has saved my life, and my sister’s, more than once. Will I ever be able to fully trust anyone? Can I trust Ryker?

His voice interrupts my thoughts. “Okay. There’s a small flashlight in the glove compartment. Can you get it for me?”

Looking at him in surprise, I do as he asks. I open the glove compartment and there's the item he’s pointing to. It’s lying right next to the gun in its leather holster and the knife.

Boys and their toys.

Ryker grabs the oblong flashlight and presses the button on the side. An ultraviolet light flashes.