I need it, crave it.
I think of Ana’s reaction earlier when I found out her secret and even my black heart cracks a little. She must have been hiding like this for years, I realize. While I don’t know much about the world outside these walls, from what I do know the rest of the world isn’t much safer or better off than we are in here. The thought is sobering, what this beautiful woman has likely done to survive out there.
I walk towards the open wall facing down into the courtyard and pit below. My hands grip the stone as I consider her earlier question. What the fuck am I going to do about the other inmates? Can I really hope to keep her a secret from these savages? As much as my pride wants to say yes, I know my interest will only paint a bigger target on her back, regardless of gender. I can only hope my earlier warning with Cole will deter others from fucking with her. Him. Josh. Ana.
I sigh and rub a hand over my face. It goes against everything in me, but this girl is tough and she’s going to have to be to survive here.
Fuck.
I walk slowly back to my room, unsure if she will even be there when I return. I feel the hint of a smile when I think of how she talked back to me. It quickly falls when I think of how I responded.
I’ve been with women before, but there is something different about Ana. She tames the demons in my soul in a way nothing and no one ever has before. I don’t think she realizes the depth of how I want her, need her. Somehow, I know that will be my undoing.
Stepping into the room my eyes immediately fall to the bed where she is curled up asleep, a small smile on her face. My heart aches just looking at her, and tomorrow I resolve to sort this shit with Cole and his crew once and for all so I can focus on her.
This beautiful queen who has chosen me.
A queen in Hell must be strong, and I can only hope she is right, and she has the strength to survive the Tomb.
Careful not to wake her, I lay on the bed beside her, inhaling deeply and smelling a hint of citrus along with a sultry womanly smell that is all Ana. I close my eyes and for the first time I can remember, the demons and nightmares let me sleep.
* * *
I wake to beautiful blue eyes staring back at me. Blinking a few times, I realize I did in fact sleep through the night. No night terrors, no need to wake in the night to cut.
“Good morning,” she says lightly, and I feel the uncertainty in her voice. My eyes smile at her. Despite how we left things yesterday, there is no anger in her voice.
“Good morning,” I reply, bringing a hand up to run down her cheek. She smiles at me, leaning her cheek into my touch. Our legs are entwined, despite not having been like that when I came in here, and my dick twitches against her leg. She must feel it because her small smile turns into a grin. Even in shapeless clothes with no hair, she is radiant. But when she smiles it makes my heart skip a beat.
Sitting up a bit, she leans down and kisses me. It’s soft and tentative and oh so endearing. I growl and flip her beneath me.
“We don’t have much time,draga,” I tell her, all the while my hand is reaching down to untie the baggy pants she wears. She opens her mouth to say something, but my hand quickly finds her clit and whatever she was going to say is lost in a sharp intake of breath. Fuck, she’s already wet for me as I run my fingers down her slit. My mouth finds hers again, this time hungry and demanding. She meets my lips with passion as I explore her warm folds. I feel a hand begin to reach down to my swollen member.
“No time for that,” I say against her lips and her hand drops as she looks up at me. “You are beautiful, and you deserve pleasure.” My thumb finds her clit as I push a finger inside her, making her moan.
“How I wish I could fuck you senseless right now,” I continue, keeping up the circular motions, “but for now I will have to settle for making you come.” I feel her begin to tense around my finger and I add another. My dick hates me right now but seeing her breathless with her face flushed is worth it. My mouth finds her once more as I feel her explode around my hand, her cries muffled in my mouth. I slowly rub a few more times, letting her come down.
“Holy shit!” she finally says, blinking a few times. I chuckle and remove my hand, reveling in the juices coating. I have to resist the urge to bring it to my mouth again, but I know if I do, I’ll never get out of this bed.
“How I wish I could stay here with you today, but there are things to do,” I tell her, planting one more kiss on her before standing and stretching with a groan. Making my way across the room I grab a cup of water and bring it back to her. Sitting up, she drinks it down greedily before handing it back to me.
“Thanks,” she says, with a smile on her face, and I know she doesn’t mean for the water.
Sixteen
Ana
Axle winks at me and I giggle. My eyes widen at the sound. Since when the fuck do I giggle? A slow smile rises to his face and I’m amazed at how different he looks.
“I’ve never before thought anything in this place could be cute,” he tells me wryly and I sit up, punching him playfully.
“I’m not cute,” I inform him succinctly. “I’m a badass, remember?” There is a tone of hardness to this he doesn’t fail to pick up on. His face drops and I feel a bit guilty for reminding him of our argument the night before. I need to stay on his good side.
“Sorry,” I say softly, my own head dropping. I feel a hand on my chin and raise my eyes to look at his. In the morning light, I can see the blackness is really a deep green color and, for a moment, I am lost in their depths.
“No, fuck…I’m sorry, Ana. I want to keep you safe and shielded from the bullshit of this place, but I know that’s impossible. You must be a strong woman if you have survived on your own.”
My mouth must be on the floor right now at this admission from him. This man keeps surprising me. I can’t imagine he’s someone who says sorry a lot. Or ever.