As I approached the line, I strolled past Lock and he grinned at me. His teeth grazed his bottom lip, and I felt like his mouth was on me. I swallowed hard and deliberately turned my back on him. I could have sworn I heard him chuckle. He was insane.

  It had been a week since we’d been together. I had tried to go back to pretending that he wasn't on my mind every moment of every goddamn day. But I couldn't help it. With every look, near caress, smile, I felt like I was doing something illicit. The problem was that pretending he wasn't there, pretending I didn't see him looking at me, pretending I didn't ache every night wishing my fingers were his own, that all just made it worse. I was desperate now. And he must have known it because I looked a wreck. I was a wreck. I was so distracted.

  Tabs squared me up on the line. "Are you sure you're okay?"

  "Stop asking me that.”

  “Stop being a space cadet. Jesus Christ, you look like you have someone on your mind."

  She stopped talking and then turned toward Lock before turning back to me. “You look like you've been dickmatized."

  "That's not a word."

  “Yes, it is. It absolutely is, and this is a look of someone who's been dicked so good, she cannot think. Please, God, tell me that he has dicked you so good you can't think."

  "Christ, Tabs, Winston Isles was over a week ago."

  “You know that's not what I mean."

  “I plead defeat,” I sighed. “Now, can we get on with the show?"

  “You are going to tell me everything, okay?"

  “I'm telling you nothing because there's nothing to tell. Can I go now?"

  She rolled her eyes as I took my position on the line. "Sure, run along. But I will corner you. I will get answers, and then I will want all the gory details. You've been holding out. And I will make you pay for that. Sorely."

  I knew enough of Tabs to be scared. She would find a way to make me talk. But this was one of those secrets that had to be taken to the grave because there could be trouble.

  I took my mark. I could still feel Lock's gaze on my ass. Very much like the hand print he left there a week ago. I could still remember the shock of it.

  And then the shock of other things. The way both of his hands had smacked on to my flesh, squeezed, grabbed hold and pulled me backward right into his mouth. And then all the places he had put his tongue. I shivered and tried to focus. If I was slow, one of them was going to catch me. And I’d be goddamned if anyone other than Lock caught me.

  If Lock catches us, please God, let it be dirty, my libido called out.

  Nope. No dirty. Focus. Just focus.

  My brain locked in on the tree line as my target. When the gun went off, I ran and I felt free. Like no one could catch me, almost as if I had a say about what happened in my life. I made it to the tree line easily, and I wasn't even breathing hard. But I could already hear the thunder of footsteps coming for me.

  I grabbed the branch that had been conveniently placed at the entrance and proceeded to jog backward, covering my path with nettle leaves as I went. When I hit the boulders, I took my brush branch with me, scrambling up and over them. I headed west purposely to make footprints leading that way for about fifty meters before hopping the boulders and tracing my path backward. And then I headed east. Sprinting. Moving. Hearing the call of their voices just outside the tree line. I needed to hurry.

  I had twelve trainees today, Lock and Saint being two of them. Sadly, Saint was going to have to go down first because he would be the most problematic next to Lock. Lock, I could fuck with. Saint though… If I wasn't careful, he would have me trussed up like a Christmas goose in no time. He was good.

  When I finally hit the caves, I picked my high target and climbed. I had no trouble making it up. It was a warm day, but the falls hadn't yet started, so it was still dry enough to use my hands instead of having to use equipment to climb.

  When I scrambled up on top of the tallest boulder, I climbed into the bolt hole I’d used for months and pulled out my gun and tranqs. I almost felt bad. I took out the slowest target first, right at the tree line with a simple pop. He went down quietly, so the others didn't hear him. They were busy thrashing through the forest.

  From my vantage point, I could see most of them. This time, the competition was designed so that they had to take each other out. Most people tried to find me first and then take out the competition. But I saw Saint was not taking that tactic. He took out one target about fifty meters in. I accessed the mic in that region of the woods and heard her saying something about an alliance. Working together.

  Saint’s voice was light when he said, "That sounds like a great idea. Except those aren't the rules." And then he shot her with a tranq gun. I chuckled at that.

  When she sagged, he caught her easily. And Saint being Saint, he lifted her and placed her against the tree with a yellow flag over head, marking that she'd already been taken and the others had to leave her alone.

  Jesus, that was one and two, I had ten to go.

  Rookie actually took out Robert, who was so busy thrashing around that he hadn't even seen Rookie hiding behind a tree. Rookie was coming along with his combat skills, and he just stepped around the tree, clotheslined him, then hit him with a tranq dart. I winced, almost feeling the pain for him. And wonder of wonders, Rookie didn't even flinch. He just planted his flag and kept moving.

  Sadly, he was going to have to go. I took out him and two more targets by the lower falls, making sure to mark each of them by the tracker in their tranq dart. And on and on I went until only Saint and Lachlan were left. So much for my plan of taking Saint out first. I couldn't even see Lachlan. He had gotten better. Far better.

  I still could see Saint in the bushes. He started to go west, following my tracks, and then something stopped him just at the boulders. He glanced at the ground again and then started to laugh, shaking his head as he turned east.

  Which was going to be his downfall. I didn't have much time and space, but just as he headed down the tree-lined path, I aimed and fired.

  But just before my dart went in, someone tackled him to the ground.

  Son of a bitch. I hit the mic for the region he was in, and sure enough, it was Lock. "Sorry, mate. She's mine."

  Saint laughed. ”It should stand to argue that whoever catches her, she's theirs. And I intend to catch her."

  “She’s mine.”

  “I let you have her last time."

  “I'm not letting you have her, mate. Sorry." Lock's voice, while light, was all menace.

  Saint, just laughed. “I see you've got it bad."

  Lock winced. "Nope. I just have every intention of being sent back in the field. And I’ve got to get good."

  Saint laughed. “I do love how you say that. Got to get good. Meanwhile, I was born good."

  Lock laughed as they danced around each other. “I see you're delusional. That's okay. I like you anyway."

  And then Saint lunged at him, but Lock had gotten good. Very good. He was quick. Efficient. He anticipated movements. I knew even I might have a difficult time with him in hand-to-hand combat at that point. He'd taken all of the fight training and paired it with his finely honed instincts. He was going to be a problem.

  It took him no time to deal with Saint, and then he put a tranq in his friend's neck.

  Oooff, cold.

  He was coming for me. And it was time I let myself get caught.

  Anticipation hummed in my veins. Technically speaking, this wasn't part of the skill. But we had to talk, and this was the most privacy we were going to have for several days. Inside the cave, I paced. He had to have known I was coming here. It provided the best vantage point, and if he'd seen me shoot at Saint, he knew the trajectory of where the tranq dart had come from. It only took five minutes before I heard his footsteps outside. And even that was more of an instinct than anything. He was being very stealthy. If my brother knew what was good for him, he would make him a field agent.

  "Sweetheart, I know you're in here,” he said sweetly.

  “You're not supposed to call me sweetheart."

  I stepped out of the shadows, and he relaxed. "There you are. That was dirty with Saint. You tried to tranq him."

  "Sorry, but isn't that the point? It's his job to avoid getting tagged."

  “Yes, but I wanted the honor."

  "Are we going to argue about who the right person is to tranq him? Your job is to tranq him before I do. You did your job. Well done."

  He stalked toward me. “I know that look."

  "No."

  He frowned. “But I missed you."

  “You have to stop looking at me the way that you look at me."

  “Do you really want me to stop?"

  I swallowed hard. “You need to stop. How's that?"

  "Still not an answer."

  "Lock, we can't."

  “I know. I know we fucking can't. Except I can't go another day and not taste you. Sorry. You're going to have to stop me."

  I pleaded with him. "Lock."

  He stepped toward me. “You know how to stop me, just say the words. Tell me, 'Stop, Lock, I don't want you to touch me.'"

  "That's hardly fair."

  "Who said anything about fair?" he chuckled. "I crave you. Do you understand? I can't think. I can't breathe. I can't fucking sleep. God, do you know how many times I have jacked off to dreams of you?"

  I swallowed hard then backed up, hitting a ridge with my ass. "Lock, this makes it so much harder. I can feel you watching me all the time."

  “I can feel you watching me."

  "Oh right, so this is my fault?" I countered.

  "Well, yes. I need you."

  "Lock, we can't."

  "Fuck the rules," he said as he closed the space between us. "Tell me to stop. Use your words, Saff. Tell me you don't want me."

  I swallowed hard, backing up ever so slightly. "That's not fair."

  "That's what I thought." His lips crashed down on mine, hard and unyielding. He backed me up against the wall, and I shivered with need.

  Jesus fucking Christ. It felt good. So good. Always so fucking good.

  He ran his nose along my neck. “Do you know how many times I have thought about this scent and what to do about it? I need more of it all over my fucking room. The moment I went home, I could smell you. It's almost as familiar to me as your cunt."

  "Lock, you can't say that to me."

  "Why not? I want you. And I know what the rules say. You don't have to tell me." His big body crowded me against the wall. And then his hands slid around my waist and scooped down to my ass, lifting me. And then, bracing me against the wall, he said, "Tell me no, Saff, and I’ll walk away. Tell me you don't want me."

  But he knew I couldn't say that, and all I could do was moan his name. “Lock…”

  "Say no. It’s just one little word."

  Then his lips trailed where his nose had been, and the only word I was able to whisper was, “Yes.”

  Lachlan

  We didn't have time. Not the kind of time I needed with her. These stolen moments were barely keeping me going.

  It's not like she didn't warn you.

  She had warned me. But true to form, I’d thought the rules wouldn't apply to us. But they had. I knew what she stood to lose, but that didn't stop me from craving her, from needing her. Didn't stop that feral, burning lust under my skin.

  As we kissed, her lips on mine felt like a soothing balm after being on fire for weeks. But then her tongue teased out, and all it did was stoke the flames again. It was her, always soft, always driving me mad. She would be my undoing. Hell, she already was.

  I kissed her thoroughly, bending my knees ever so slightly to give us a better angle. As always a slow teasing start led to a frantic tangle of tongue and teeth and moans. My thumbs played across the exposed expanse of skin at her belly just above her cargos. My thumbs dipped down below the waistband, and her breath hitched.

  In the background, I could hear the walkie talkies going. Other trainers speaking as they were dealing with the rest of the incapacitated trainees. It was my reminder that we had no time to waste.

  I kissed her hungrily, licking into her mouth, trying to capture a part of her. Something to tide me over until I could taste her again. But the deeper I delved, the more I craved, and I knew was this was a hunger I could not satisfy.

  Saff tugged at my T-shirt, sliding her hands underneath it. Her fingertips were cool, but the higher she slid the hotter her palms got. Teasing, she flicked her fingertips over my nipples and I hissed. My skin was on fire. Hypersensitive. Desperate for her to touch any piece of it.

  I didn't care where she was touching me, I just wanted her to touch me. My cock fought against my zipper. He wanted out. He wanted in Saff.

  Fucking hell. I was desperate to give him what he wanted.

  With a frustrated groan, she angrily tugged at my T-shirt.

  Chuckling, I helped her and pulled it all the way off. Then she went for my cargoes, and those slid down more easily.

  Saff sank to her knees and said, “You're not the only one who's been craving something.”

  I froze with my hands braced against the sharp edges of the cave wall as I watched her in the darkness. “Saff—"

  “Shhh. I'm busy.”

  She wrapped both hands around my cock and stroked down the length of me to the base of my shaft, one hand anchoring a firm grip, and already my eyes were ready to roll in the back of my head. With her perched on her knees in front of me, her breath on my tip, I was done for. I could even feel the bead of precum threatening to leak. Fucking hell, she was going to kill me. I had survived the other trainees only to have her kill me while she was the one on her knees.

  With her thumb, she spread the bead of precum across the tip of my cock, making me strain even harder. My skin was stretched so tight that every stroke felt like blissful torture.

  And then she leaned forward, and with the tip of her tongue she licked all around the head of my dick.

  I grunted, dropping one arm to fist a hand in her hair, trying to drag her forward. “No teasing.”

  She peered up at me from her knees, her position one of submission, but she knew she was absolutely, completely in control of me. As always, Saff Abbott owned me. I knew it, and so did she.

  Her dark eyes shone, and she tentatively licked again.

  Fuck. My knees started to go right away.

  I fought for control. Fought to keep myself standing. Fought not to embarrass myself by coming within five seconds of her putting her mouth on me. And it was a fight of a lifetime.

  Leaning forward, she took me all the way to the back of her throat. When my cock met with resistance, she inhaled then slowly relaxed her throat, taking me even further down. All I could do was watch in mystified awe as her lips wrapped around my cock and she took me all the way down.

  I moaned, “Fuck you're so sexy.”

  She pulled back slightly and took me down again, all the while, stroking with her hand in time with her mouth. It didn't take long. I was ready to come. Ready to blow and I hadn't even been inside her yet.

  With a sharper grip than I meant to use, I tugged her braids, trying to force her to stop. Her eyes glittered mutinously, and then she took me once more down her throat and made the swallowing motion.

  The zing of electricity up my spine was enough to make my knees shake. And I had to pull hard to tuck her off my cock. “You naughty thing. I'm not coming yet. Not until I'm inside you.”

  “Hurry up then. We are out of time.”

  “Sorry, sweetheart, this isn't something I plan on rushing.

  I turned her to face the wall, planting her hands up above her head. And then I reached for her hips, pulling her ass out. I release the button of her cargoes, making sure they dropped to the ground. When I leaned down, placing a tender kiss on the cheek of her arse, I made sure to lick her pussy just like she liked. Just a few short strokes because she was right, we were running out of time. I also reached into the pocket of my cargoes and popped open the bottle of lube I’d brought, spreading it over my cock.

  I bent my knees, sliding my dick between her open thighs, groaning at the sensation.

  “Oh fuck, Lachlan, your so slick. Am I that wet?”

  I smirked down at her and bit her shoulder. “Yes. And no. I brought a little help.”

  She was still then. “Lachlan, we don't have time.”

  “We'll make time,” I ground out.

  With her ass turned up toward me. I lined my dick up along her crease and moved my hips, sliding back and forth along the length of her. “Spread your cheeks for me. I want to see what I'm playing with.”

  With a quivering gasp, she nodded. “Oh God, yes. Yes, Lachlan.”

  She did as I told her, and I could see the tight pucker of her gorgeous ass. I certainly did not have time to go slow and fuck her ass right now, but playing was an option.

  With my thumb, I slid over the tight pucker massaging the muscles and sliding a finger inside. When I did, she gasped, “Oh, fuck.”

  At that very moment, I bent my knees, lined my cock up to her slick center, and drove home. She released a cheek and braced a hand against the wall, muttering a soft curse. “Oh my God. Oh my God.”

  I whispered into her shoulder, “I know. I fucking know. I’ve missed you so much.”

  I slid my hand up her belly, over her ribs, and palmed her breast. I loved her fiercely and quickly, demanding she give me everything she had to give in a short amount of time. Biting her on the delicate skin where her neck met her shoulder, marking her as mine.

  The only question was if I’d be able to hold onto her if someone tried to take her from me.

  27

  Saffron

  I was toast.

  For sure, Gabe was going to be able to tell that I was lying. I'd never been able to lie around him. Even when it would have served me best, I still couldn't lie to my brother. He had that way of staring at you, peering into your soul and plucking out the one thing you didn't want him to see.

  Like your pussy still aches from Lachlan’s dick.