Axle
As soon as I get back to my chambers, I set to work redoing the old door I took off ages ago. I despise the idea of bringing any more suspicion to my door—literally—but I’d rather raise suspicion than have someone walk in on Ana. Plus, it’s doing an excellent job of distracting me while I wait for her. Everything in my being is wanting to run out of this room and find her, drag her back here, and never let her leave again. In equal measure, I want to hold and treasure her but also whip her ass silly for the stunt she pulled today. It’s maddening the array of emotions she is making me feel.
Instead, I wait. I fix the door.
I’ve never been a patient man by nature, but life in The Tomb has long since taught me the whole “patience is a virtue” thing has merit. I was patient for years while I waited to rise, to kill that cowardly fucker Brenan.
As I’m putting the final nails back into place, I hear footsteps coming toward me and stick my head out to see who is coming. When she looks up to see me standing here, I see her bite her lip in efforts to hide the smile tugging at her lips and I feel my dick twitch at the sight.
Damn. Even with dirt on her face and wearing a baggy hoodie with no hair, she is stunning. I notice as she is walking toward me how well she has adopted a masculine way of walking. I couldn’t describe it beyond saying it isn’t notably feminine, just more rigid and male. Then again, I don’t have much experience with watching women walk so what do I know? Still, I resolve to ask her later more about how she came to hide herself so well.
“Hello,” she says meekly in that lower voice she’s adopted for her Josh persona. I feel a hint of a smile tug at my own lips and glance around confirming there is no one around before stepping forward and wrapping my arms around her.
Immediately, I feel the rage and fire within me simmer, my whole body relaxing as she melts into my arms. Her scent fills me, a uniquelyAnasmell that is a boon on my soul.
“I’m so fucking pissed at you,” I murmur into her hood, kissing the top of her head. She looks up at me with wide eyes before smirking at me.
“Heard about it, huh?” she replies wryly. I push her forward lightly, swatting her ass inside and making her squeak.
“Get inside while I finish this,” I tell her, turning my attention back to the door. She smiles at me and nods, going further into my chamber. My dick jumps again as she walks away, turning to smile at me, and I hurry to finish the door so I can punish her in all delicious ways.
* * *
I find Ana still in her boyish garb sitting on the makeshift window ledge, looking down at the yard. Being in my position, I have the best vantage point in The Tomb and I’ve sat in the exact spot many times myself with similar expressions on my face. Leaning back against a wall, I simply watch her.
After a moment, she turns and catches me watching and a devilish grin crosses her face. Pursing her lips, she tries and fails to hide her smile. Hopping down from the ledge, she walks over to me, hands in her pockets. She stops when she gets in front of me, looking up at me through her lashes.
“Still mad?” she asks sweetly as she goes onto her toes, wrapping her slender arms around my neck. My hands roam down her sides, stopping to give her ass a solid squeeze. Unable to resist any longer I lean forward and kiss her deeply, making her gasp when I finally release her.
“Yes,” I say simply, enjoying the reaction my lips have on her and the now flustered expression on her face. I stride over to the table to look for a few things and hear her come up behind me.
“It totally wasn’t my fault,” she tells me, and I turn to her arching an eyebrow. “Okay, maybe it was a little my fault. But poor Brutus!”
“Brutus?”
Ana proceeds to tell me what happened, and I feel a migraine building behind my eyes as she goes on. How on earth has she survived on her own? Stupid woman.
“Asshole,” she retorts, and I realize I said that out loud.
“Honestly though,” I reply, exasperated, “you’ve been here what, a day, and already you’ve…”
I’m interrupted by soft lips pressed against mine and for a moment I relax into them before I realize what she’s doing.
“Hey, you can’t do that!” I exclaim and she giggles.
“Effective distraction.” She winks at me.
Twenty Three
Ana
Ihave to admit I enjoy the rise I can get out of him. It’s been a long time since I’ve had any close proximity with a man, yet so many of his little mannerisms and tells stand out to me. I’ve gotten quite good at reading people over the years. Mostly because Josh taught me some of them to help me.
I’ve thought of Josh a lot since I’ve been here.
It’s been almost eight years now since Josh died saving me.God, has it really been that long?I remember the night so well, even though I’ve essentially run from it ever since. Making my way across the continent, intent on surviving and moving. Constantly pushing myself to keep going, because otherwise his death means nothing. For the last year though, I’ve managed quite well to distract myself in a small village at one of the borders. I still dressed as a boy, but it was a safe place and the people were generally warm and loving.
It was my own panic at the comfort of it all that led me to run off, promptly finding myself arrested in an alley with some other scourge. My own inability to let go of my guilt over Josh’s death landed me here.