“Baby,” he sighs. “Fuck. That’s so good.”

  I roll my tongue from the base of him to the top, wetting his dick and stroking it in my closed palm. Once the tip is wet, I lower myself closer, settling onto my belly on the bed, and I use my hand to stroke his erection back and forth against my nipple. The tight skin is so sensitive, even the slight motion brings a rush of arousal between my legs. Josh responds too, panting and cursing lightly under his breath.

  “I want to take you deep,” I whisper.

  I feel his fingers tighten in my hair, and I open wide then take as much of his length into my mouth as I can. I close my lips, swirl my tongue, and slowly pull my head back, tightening my lips against his shaft.

  “Jesus, fuck,” he grits.

  I take that as an invitation to continue. He gently nudges my head, and I draw him deeper. Again and again, I pull his length into my mouth, licking and sucking until I feel a slight pulse from his cock.

  “Babe,” he warns, and I slowly pull my mouth away.

  I fumble my fingers along the sheet until I feel the crinkle of the foil. I tear open the condom, toss the wrapper, and ease the thin latex over his length. He’s panting and his eyes are open, liquid fire watching my every move. I kneel again, crawling up his legs until my pussy is centered over him. I bend down so my face is level with his, and I meet his eyes.

  “Hey,” he whispers.

  “Hey back.”

  Something passes between us then. Something soft and sweet. A touch of shyness, maybe on my part.

  I lean forward and stroke his face. The beard that just a few minutes ago brought me to the edge and over. “Josh.” I whisper his name and lean forward. I touch my lips to his, not sure what to expect.

  He kisses me back. But it’s not needy, voracious. His lips are soft, and his words thick with emotion.

  “Annie,” he whispers, my name sounding so damn beautiful in the throaty rasp. “You’re fucking unbelievable. You’re perfect.”

  I smile, shaking my head at the compliment. I’m far from perfect, but I know what he means. I think I feel the same thing he’s feeling. This. Us. That’s what’s unbelievable. The kind of perfect I’ve never felt before but have craved with my whole soul.

  Whether this lasts forever or just until I’m out of danger, I’m in it. I’m his. And I believe he’s mine too.

  I grin, ready to give to him exactly what he gave me. I settle over his cock, then lower myself until I feel the head nudge my wet opening.

  The sensation sends sparks from my belly to my toes. The loving moment has passed, and I’m fully aroused again. Wanting my body to express things my heart isn’t ready to.

  I clench my pussy around the tip of his erection and then lift myself up and off him. I don’t settle deeper, but pull away, then I relax my muscles, slide down onto him, and tighten, milking just the head of his cock with my pussy. Over and over, I slide just over the head and then back up, up and down until he’s thrashing beneath me.

  “Fuck,” he bites out. His aroused curses send a flood of wetness to my core.

  I run a hand along his chin and touch his parted lips. I want to take my time, savor every moment of our first time. The first time we’ll join our bodies and share something that will bind us. Maybe even bind us for the long run. I want to enjoy every second, but more than anything, after everything that’s happened the last few days—the fear, the running, the uncertainty—I want to make this pleasure last. But I don’t think Josh can hold out for much longer.

  He leans forward, plants his hands on my hips, and tilts his hips up. I relax my legs and slide down until we are fully joined. His length is all the way inside me, our bodies connected in pleasure that is so far beyond exquisite, it’s almost painful. As I adjust to his length, I lean back just slightly, pivoting my weight until I feel pressure in the right spot.

  “Baby, ride me hard,” he begs.

  The space between us closes as he lowers his mouth to my breast. He pulls a nipple into his mouth and sucks hard while I rock my hips against his.

  He’s so deep inside me, every roll of my hips has his shaft sliding against my walls. The power of his mouth on my nipples would be enough to send me off into oblivion. The angle of his shaft while I ride puts pressure on my clit. I go boneless in seconds.

  I close my eyes and ride his body, rocking and gentle until I find my pace, and then I go frantic, digging my toes into the mattress and clawing at his back as I chase our perfect high.

  “Oh God. Oh my God.” I’m about to fall over the edge. I see the cliff coming, and I careen toward it, eyes closed, Josh’s teeth tearing at my nipple while my legs widen, and I toss my head back.

  When the climax hits, it’s like a thousand spotlights are turned on behind my eyelids. I squint against the colors, crying out with the crest of every wave. I ride him until my thighs burn and my heart rate slows. I whimper his name as my head rolls forward, coming to rest against his shoulder.

  “So fucking good,” he mumbles. “Good girl. Now give me that ass.”

  I need his help to lift off his cock and lie on my belly. I feel like my bones are made of jelly, and it’s the best feeling ever. My pussy is hot and swollen, my nipples so raw, the pressure of the rough sheets bringing another wave of sensation over my body. I flop my arms across the bed like a rag doll while Josh slips a pillow under my abdomen.

  Then I feel the smack of his palm against my ass.

  “Fuck,” he breathes. “Your body… You’re goddamn perfect, Annie.”

  Then I feel his palm come down on my cheek again. Even as wrecked as I am, the sensation feels amazing. I lie there and take it, accepting it, receiving every sensation he wants to give me. He curls his fingers around my ass, and I don’t even have the strength to resist or tense up when I feel him spread my cheeks.

  I wonder vaguely what he wants to do, if he’s going to do something there or just look, but I don’t have time to feel insecure. I feel the lightest touch of his fingertip circling my ass. I have never, ever been touched there, but I’ve always been curious about what it would feel like.

  I don’t have time for emotions or reactions because all I feel is the lightest pressure, almost a tickle as he touches my asshole and spreads my cheeks farther.

  “Someday soon, baby,” he tells me. “I’m going to make every inch of your body mine.”

  I groan into the sheets, something that might be a word if I had the strength to shape the sound into actual syllables. It’s yes, please, and more, all wound into a grunty thing that makes Josh laugh. My ass is propped up slightly by the pillow, and I don’t even feel shy that he’s seeing my most private everything.

  All I want is this.

  I trust him.

  I want him.

  I am completely falling for him.

  By the time I feel the head of his cock nudge my pussy, I’m wet again, or still… I don’t know and I don’t care.

  He teases my lips a little like I teased him, entering me, then pulling out. Going deeper, pulling back. I thought I was too wrung out to even use my legs, but turns out I’m wrong. With Josh behind me, agonizing me with teasing little thrusts, I shove my hips back toward him, desperate to have him fill me again.

  He obliges, thrusting slow, but this time pushing until he can’t go deeper. I feel him fill me so completely, I open my mouth and practically bite the sheets, humming his name and pressing my hips back to take him deeper than it seems possible to do.

  He leans forward and grips my shoulders, then rockets his hips back and forth, using my shoulders for leverage.

  My body is bouncing in time with his, the resistance his weight creates completely overpowering me. I give in to every sensation and just feel him. The rock-hard muscles of his legs between mine. His strong hands. His cock. Our bodies move together in a powerful effort that sends me to the brink of another orgasm, but I won’t reach a third. I can’t.

  I’m lost to so many feelings. Lost to this magnetic connection we have. His body riding mine, mine rocking with his.

  “Annie, fuck,” he cries, thrusting so hard, I swear we’re moving the bed.

  When he’s done, sweaty and breathless, he rolls to the side, shoves aside the pillow that was under my belly, and flops onto his back. He peels the condom from his softening erection and rolls it tightly into a ball and sets it on the floor. I imitate his flop, struggling to find the energy to roll to my back, but wanting to get closer to him.

  He opens his arms, and somehow my limbs cooperate. I slam my cheek against his chest and huff a sigh.

  “I brought more condoms.” I can barely form the words to remind him, but I mumble it against the heat of him, my eyes closed, my body happy.

  Then I pass out, every inch of me falling into an exhausted, blissful sleep.

  16

  ARROW

  I wake up and my body is plastered against Annie’s, and if I’m not sweating from where our legs intertwine, my arm is asleep from trying to hold her close. I don’t give a shit if it’s the worst night’s sleep of my life. I’ve never ever felt this fucking good. Every time I squint my eyes open against the dark, I’m reassured she’s here.

  I’ve dated plenty and slept with plenty more. But I’ve never had a connection with a woman on a personal and physical level so fast. So powerful. Not only do I fucking love her company, her humor, her sweetness, but goddamn, she is wild in bed.

  I resist the urge to wake her in the middle of the night for another round of fun, but by the time the sun brightens the windows, I feel her fingers stroking my morning wood.

  “Hey,” she whispers, looking up at me. Her hair is tousled, and she has the cutest little sleep lines pressed into her right cheek. I stroke the skin with a finger.

  “Hey to you, gorgeous. Sleep okay?”

  She ducks her chin to kiss my fingers and shakes her head. “It was the worst night of sleep I’ve had in a while, but it was still the best night ever.”

  I chuckle. “Same, babe. Same.”

  We lie together in a groggy fog, her fingers exploring my chest and abs while I smooth her hair and try to control the raging erection that presses against her thigh. She cuddles closer, her thigh thrown over mine, and my dick throbs in response.

  She cups my balls and gently strokes my sac. “My purse is right over there…”

  That’s all the invitation I need. “I’m going to bring every single condom you packed,” I tell her.

  I ease out of bed, my boner bobbing painfully as I head to her open purse. I reach inside her small purse and feel the loose cash that Neveah stashed in there yesterday. I fumble around past a wallet and ChapStick, but before I feel the familiar foil-wrapped packet, my fingers hit on something small, flat, and hard. I pick up her purse and open it wide, peering inside.

  “Did you find them?” Annie calls. She’s naked on the bed now, the sheets pushed aside as she watches me with a sly grin on her face.

  “Can I look in here?”

  She cocks her head and looks at me with a concerned expression. “Yeah, why? What is it?”

  I fish my way to the bottom of her purse and stop when my fingers hit the small disk again. As soon as I pick it up, my gut turns over, and I break into a sweat.

  I hold up the small device to show her. “Is this yours?” I ask.

  Annie’s eyes widen. “What is that?” she asks. “I don’t even know what it is. And no, it’s not mine.”

  She climbs out of bed naked and meets me at her purse. She peeks inside where the loose cash is on top. I can see now that I look that two condoms, their perforated ends still connected, have folded together and are wedged between the flaps of her wallet. I pull those out and set them on the dresser.

  “We’ll hang on to these,” I tell her. “But I think we’d better get dressed.”

  She holds out a hand for the device I found in her purse. “Josh, what the hell is that?”

  I knit my brows together and rub my eyes with two fingers. “This, Annie, is a tracking device.”

  She staggers away from me, clutching her hands to her bare chest. “Shut up,” she says, shaking her head. “No. No, it can’t be. How did it get there?” She stares at me, her golden hair still messy from sleep and sex.

  She’s looking to me for answers, but I have nothing but questions. I hold the device in my hands. “I’m going to talk to Tiny,” I say, striding over to the bed and pulling on my briefs. “Until we know what’s going on, the compound may not be safe.”

  Annie sinks down on the bed and covers herself with the end of the sheet. “No…” she whispers, shaking her head. “I can’t believe it.”

  I place the device back in her purse, then turn to kneel in front of her. “Annie.” I grip her knees in my hands and squeeze. “These guys are going to be okay. They aren’t just old dudes who go for joyrides together. Until not that long ago, the Disciples spent more than their fair share of time on the wrong side of the law. Tiny and the rest of them can hold their own.”

  Her eyes are bright with tears. “Neveah?” She croaks out the word, and the raw sadness in her eyes cracks my heart into a million pieces.

  I nod. “Shower and get dressed. We’re going back to campus.”

  By the time we’re both dressed and grabbing a cup of coffee from the kitchen, the entire compound is on high alert.

  Tiny stands shoulder to shoulder with Dog and Eagle in the kitchen.

  “Crow was on a job, but he’s on his way,” he tells me with a nod. “Morris is at the office with Alice. I told Leo to let his brother handle the shop. He’s sticking close to my daughter just in case. We’ve got the compound covered. Nobody will come in or out without us knowing about it.” Tiny laces his thick fingers together and cracks his knuckles. “I’m looking forward to protecting what’s mine. Whatever it takes.”

  Annie opens her mouth to say something but stops. She looks from Tiny to Dog to me, and then down at her shoes. “I can’t believe this.” Her voice is almost a whisper.

  Tiny grimaces, and the sight’s definitely scary. He plants a meaty fist on the counter and nods at Annie. “You listen to this one,” he says, gesturing to me with his other hand. “That’s your only job. Listen to Arrow and stay safe. Don’t you worry about anything else.”

  He nods at me, and I return the gesture. I don’t know how I’m going to thank them for offering us shelter. Being willing to risk whatever danger this is to give us a place to stay. I shove that thought to the back of my mind and focus on what we need to do.

  The first priority is confronting Neveah.

  Annie’s hands shake as she sips her to-go mug of coffee, and I wrap a hand around her waist.

  “Besides,” Tiny says. “The sooner you two can get back to your own place, the sooner we can sleep in peace.”

  Annie’s eyes widen in horror as Dog taps his fingers on the kitchen paneling.

  “Thin walls,” he laughs.

  While Annie practically blushes herself into next week, I shake my head.

  “We’ll keep in touch,” I tell them. “If anything we need to know about goes down, you know how to reach me.”

  Before I take Annie outside to the truck, I scan the perimeter for cars, people, for anything that might be lying in wait for us. She stands back behind the closed door while I inspect my tires and start the truck. It all seems safe, but I have to assume that whoever placed that tracker and whoever she’s working for know exactly where we are.

  Before I wave Annie over, I drive up and down the long driveway, testing my brakes and listening to my truck for any unfamiliar sounds. Everything seems to be working fine. Nothing seems to be tampered with, and the brake lines obviously haven’t been cut, so I drive back and idle as close to the door as I can.

  “Come on,” I call, rolling down the passenger window.

  Annie takes off running from the front door of the compound, fear etched on her beautiful features. She climbs onto the running board and slams the door shut behind her, then quickly rolls up the window.

  “I’m so sorry,” she says again. “This is…” Her voice trails off as she gazes out the window.

  I reach a hand across the divider and squeeze hers. “Annie, stop apologizing. This isn’t your fault. We’re going to get answers from Neveah. And we’re going to get them today.”

  We make the rest of the drive back to campus in silence. My gut is churning as I think through how long that tracker was in Annie’s purse. She’d been using a backpack until yesterday, so I’m sure the device was just placed there when I left Neveah to get coffee. I’m not sure if I regret that decision or if that was the smartest thing I’ve done. If Neveah denies leaving the device, it’s not like I can rough her up to get her to confess, but I’ll figure that out when we get to her.

  We park in student parking and use Annie’s student tag, then hurry into the dorms. I peek at the security cams over the doors as we enter, wondering just how deep this danger runs. I glare at the cameras and lace my fingers through Annie’s. Every student we pass gets a sour look as I search every face, every hand, every passing shape for clues. Most of the students seem too relaxed to even notice us.

  It’s a gorgeous day. Sunlight floods the dorm lobby as everyone has someplace to be. I want that for Annie. I want carefree, artistic, sunshine Annie, and I’m going to get that back for her.

  We head upstairs and go right to Neveah’s.

  “Let me talk to her,” I say, lifting my hand to pound on her door.

  I knock three times, loud and hard.

  Annie stands beside me, her hands clasped together and a look of absolute fear on her face.

  “You going to be okay?” I ask. “Do you want to go to your room and wait? I’ll handle this, Annie.”

  She shakes her head and instead pushes past me. “I’m mad. I want to know what’s going on.” She pounds on the door, calling Neveah’s name. “It’s Annie. Open up!”

  A door across the hall from Neveah’s opens, and a young woman peeks out at us. “Annie? What’s the matter?” She looks me over and cocks her chin at me. “You looking for Neveah?”