Page 42

“This isn’t funny! You’re going to freeze to death out here!” The temperature plummets overnight, the frost already starting to form over the damp earth and the fog leaving a dusty layer on the trees.

“I know, that’s why I went to stay in Cara’s tent… but she seems to be busy with Cass at the moment.” She grimaces. That’s a new development.

“Get in here before you get hypothermic.” I nudge the tent opening to one side so she can enter.

“What about Cyrus? What if Tom finds out I stayed here?” she questions.

“Just get inside!” I don’t care about Tom and I’m certainly not worried about Cyrus waking up. Once he’s asleep, that’s it, he doesn’t wake until the morning. He’s a former navy seal, he sleeps through anything.

Emilia ducks her head and sits on top of my bedroll, arms crossed over her chest, shivering. No amount of torture will be enough for Tom. If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t care as much. I need to kill him, but I don’t want to risk the photos being leaked before I do. It would break her.

“Here put this on.” I throw one of my black T-Shirts at her, it’s not much but it should keep her a bit warmer. I gesture for her to get underneath the cover then climb in beside her, her back resting against my chest. Her figure molds to me perfectly. She fits just right, like she was made for me. She is still shivering, her lips quivering with a slight tinge of blue.

“Come closer, I’m a lot warmer than you are right now.” My arm slips beneath her, and I drag her in close. It’s like hugging a block of ice. I usually don’t like hugs, general closeness, or intimacy. This is different. Emilia is different. I want to be close to her. I want everything with her. I never thought I would want a future with somebody, but this is it. I want her. Only her.

“Kade…” she says. I need to control myself. I can feel the feral animal wanting to emerge every time she says my name.

“Thank you for being my own personal radiator.” She teases. I can’t help but chuckle. She leans her head down to the collar of my shirt, almost like she’s smelling it.

“Did you just smell my shirt?” I ask, a grin spreading across my face.

“Don’t laugh, but… I like your smell. It means something to me,” she whispers.

“What does it mean?” This is the first time we’ve had enough time to talk properly, and I plan to take full advantage of that. She’s opening herself to me. I want to know everything.

“Safety…comfort…joy. I’ve craved those things for years,” she admits.

My grip tightens around her petite frame. She has known nothing but loss, fear, and horror. I plan to change that.

“You can sniff my shirt all you like if it gives you those things.” I joke but with all the seriousness in the world. She can do whatever she wants.

She chuckles and places her hand atop my arm and squeezes. I want nothing more than to have her here with me, every night. I tilt her head towards me, and she turns so we’re facing each other.

“Things are going to change, Viper…there is nothing I won’t do to keep you safe,” I vow.

“Why are you doing this?” she breathes. I can’t tell her I’m in love with her, not yet. I don’t want to make this harder than it already is.

I lean in and kiss her gently. Teasing kisses across her mouth and neck until her breathing hitches. Her chest rising more rapidly, I know she wants me. She moves her leg up to my hip and grinds against me. I know exactly what she wants. She pulls away from me, catching her breath.

“What about Cyrus?” she breathes.

“Don’t worry about him, he can sleep through anything, but just in case you’re going to have to be quiet… can you do that?” I ask. She bites her lower lip and nods. The look of pure innocence in her eyes.

“There’s my good girl.” I leave a trail of kisses down her neck which gets me little moans from her. I graze my hand up her thigh, brush her underwear aside and find her clit. She gasps so loud it causes Cyrus to stir.

“Shh, Viper, you’re going to wake him.” I tease. I don’t care if he wakes up, not right now. I’ll make sure he doesn’t see what’s mine.

I draw small circles over her clit, she’s so wet already, always ready for me before I even touch her properly. I push one finger inside her, her moans the most intoxicating sound I’ve ever heard. I add another finger and thrust them in and out, gently at first, but then slowly pick up the pace. Her moans are getting desperate now.

“Kade…” she whimpers. “I want you inside me…please…I can’t wait anymore.”

“Fuck—” I move on top of her in between her legs. Her body starts jolting, like she’s uncomfortable. I don’t have time to register her next movement as she growls and turns us so she’s on top of me.

“Fuck this,” she murmurs. She yanks the ring from her finger so hard; she’ll bruise and throws it in the corner of the tent. My hands roam over her body. I tease her nipples with my thumb and finger until she tilts her head back and grinds against me. I’m not going to last long, I could come right now…the way she’s moving against me.

She leans down and kisses me so desperately, her tongue in battle with my own. She bites my lower lip so hard I groan into her mouth and grip her ass. My restraint snaps. I take my cock out of the confines of my sweatpants whilst she moves her panties to one side.

She slides down on my cock hesitantly, but moans as she lowers herself deeper and tilts her head back towards the ceiling of the tent. I have to remind myself she only knows Tom, she’s never fucked anyone willingly. I thrust my hips forward at a gentle, slow rhythm. She’s so tight, she strangles my cock as she clenches.