He waits a moment and then slowly releases the towel. I have to grab it to keep it from sliding off my shoulders. I expect him to move back, but he just stands there and watches me dry off. “It’s about time you and I had a chat.”
“So chat.” I focus on getting as much water out of my hair as possible. There’s no hair dryer in this room, so I’m going to be a frizzy mess in the morning, but it’s the least of my worries right now.
“You liked what we did in there.”
It’s not quite a question, but I answer honestly all the same. “You served a purpose.”
He gives a rough laugh. “And the claws come out.”
I should leave it at that, but there’s something about Abel that sparks a fierce part of me that rarely sees the light. “Yes, I liked what we did in there. That doesn’t mean a damn thing. I’m not going to let you use me to hurt the faction.”
“Interesting that you’re more worried about the faction than about Eli.”
If he meant that to sting, he’s talking to the wrong woman. The good of the many has always outweighed the good of a single person in my eyes. “I have my priorities in order. Not everyone does.”
“And what will you do to protect the faction, sweetheart? How far will you go?”
I know what he’s asking me, and for a moment, I truly consider rolling over and giving him everything. I know better, though. It’s not in my nature to give up without a fight, and Abel isn’t the type of man to respect anything but strength. But he wants me. He wasn’t faking what happened in that bed any more than I was. We might have met in mutual rage at Eli, but the pleasure was real.
Does he realize he’s handing me a weapon to fight with?
Surely he must.
It doesn’t matter. I’ll use whatever I have at my disposal.
I drop the towel and close the distance between us. I carefully press my palms to his chest. “Are you asking me if I’ll fuck you in order to protect my people?” I run my hands down his chest and hook them into the band of his jeans. “If I’ll bargain orgasms for leniency?”
He leans forward, his dark eyes alight with lust. “Well?”
I snort and drop my hands. There’s no missing the hard cock pressed against the front of his jeans. Poor thing, he’s going to have one hell of a case of blue balls. “No.” I lift my chin and meet his gaze. “If I ride your cock again, it will be because I want to. We both know that no sex is good enough to manipulate you into doing what I want.”
He gives that dark laugh again, the one that slides along my skin like a rough tongue. “You’re not wrong.”
“Yeah, I didn’t think so.” That sort of thing might work on another man, and I’d be more than willing to go there. The safety of thousands is worth more than my pride, my freedom, my life. It won’t work with Abel, and so I won’t play that game. He likes the challenge I present, and I’m only too happy to step to the line he draws in the sand.
“There’s just one question left, then.” He catches my hands and presses them back to his chest. “Do you want to ride my cock, Harlow?” Abel takes a step, and this time I can’t stop myself from moving back. I don’t drop my hands, though. I just stare at him as I let him herd me until my ass presses against the sink.
My heart aches so fucking much. The events of the last couple hours whirl around in my mind and give me no relief. Fear for the future, anger at Eli, frustration over how fucking helpless I feel—it all rattles the chains in my head. The only time I wasn’t thinking was when Abel was inside me.
I dig my nails into his chest, just a little. “What did you tell Eli before you walked in here?”
“Who says I told him anything?”
I give him the look that statement deserves. “You might be back here to take the faction, but you’re going to get your revenge in the process. Did you tell him that you’re going to hurt me?” I lean forward a little. “That you’re going to force me?”
“We both know I won’t have to.”
I snort. “We both know you wouldn’t in the first place.” That, I’m sure of. He might kill me, but he won’t cross that line. I’m not sure it’s a relief, but it feels like one all the same.
There’s that expression on his face, like I’ve surprised him. Abel plants his hands on the sink on either side of my hips. “You seem to think you know a lot about me.”