Ignite: A MM Mercenary Romance, page 17
“Oh, god. Cain.” I shudder, my thighs and abs quivering.
He strokes me in rhythm with his thrusts, angling his hips to send waves of pleasure rushing through me, from my dick all the way down to my toes. The slick sound of him moving in and out of me and our skin colliding as he fucks me hard have me at the edge in no time.
“I’m too close,” I whine, trying to smack his hand away from jerking me off.
“Fuck no,” his voice rumbles. “That cum is mine.”
He turns me over and drops down to deep-throat my cock. He suctions so hard, I nearly black out when my orgasm hits. I buck up into his mouth as moans spill from my parted lips.
My body is still tingling with warmth when he finishes swallowing my cum.
“Love your sounds,” Cain murmurs, leaning over me to brush his lips against mine as he pushes his cock back inside of my ass. “Tell me this pretty, tight hole is mine.”
“Yours.” I nod and grab him behind the neck to crush our mouths together, tasting my release on his tongue. I suck it off, and Cain slams his hips against me one last time, hard enough to bruise, groaning as he spills inside of me.
His elbows brace most of his weight when he rests his body on top of me and cradles my face in his hands. We lay there until we both catch our breaths, just staring into each other’s eyes.
When Cain pushes up onto his feet, he tugs me with him and helps me slip on my pants. He holds my hand as we walk back to his apartment, shirtless and covered in blood and cum.
I startle at the figure sitting in the common area in the dark. Rev innocently sips at a cup of coffee on the couch, a book held in his other hand.
Cain rolls his eyes. “You’re depraved, you know that?”
“What?” Rev says, lowering his mug from his mouth.
“You’re holding the fucking book upside down,” Cain says, and I giggle when Rev looks at the cover with feigned surprise. Then he breaks into a grin. “Caught red-handed. Sorry, I heard the commotion. Got caught up in the show.”
My cheeks heat, and Rev gives me a wink.
Cain flips him off and slaps my ass hard enough to launch me down the hall. “Bed. Now.”
“Goodnight, Rev,” I call behind me.
His reply floats after us. “It was indeed.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
EZRA
Heavy knocking wakes me in the morning. Groaning, I stumble out of bed and open the front door to find Rev beaming at me. He shoves a giant iced coffee in my hand, topped with whipped cream and drenched in caramel.
“I went easy on the sugar for you. Don’t want you shaky on your first day playing with firearms.”
“This is easy on the sugar?” I frown, staring down at the drink.
I’m not sure if we should address last night’s incident, but Rev doesn’t seem the slightest bit embarrassed about getting caught. Suppose if he was willing to have sex in the common area, he really doesn’t give much thought to privacy. Or boundaries.
I slip on my combat boots and follow Rev down to lower level two. He presses his thumb against a security pad beside the first heavy steel door. When it swings open, I gape at the bright white interior, teeming with weapons. Three walls house glass cases for guns and blades of all kinds. The other wall stretches about a hundred feet down, broken up by hanging targets.
“It’s like a shopping mall for killers,” I say, wandering over to an expensive wooden table covered in handguns, rifles, and heavy-duty plastic boxes of ammunition. My fingers trace the curved handle of a serrated blade.
“Cain wants you to learn how to shoot a gun before he shows you how to play with knives. Honestly, I think he’s just worried he’ll end up fucking you instead of teaching you. Pretty sure knives turn him on.” Rev winks, and my brows shoot up into my hairline.
“Um, can I opt for knives first, please?”
Rev chuckles and licks the excess whipped cream from his plastic coffee cup lid. “He that good for you, pretty boy?”
Flushing with heat, I peek into one of the ammunition boxes. My eyes shoot wide open at the size of the bullets. They’re as long as my thumb.
Rev shuts the lid on that box. “Outside fun only, I’m afraid. Alright. We’ll start with the basics.”
He walks me through parts on all the guns. We disassemble and clean a few of them. It’s tedious, and I don’t always remember where the pieces go, but Rev’s a thorough teacher, never once losing his calm.
After I load bullets into a magazine, Rev hands me ear protection. I drape them around my neck as he motions me over to the firing line. Paper targets—black silhouettes of people—dangle from the ceiling about thirty feet away in each individual shooting lane.
Before Rev can get me into position, the door to the range swings open, and Cain strides in, looking like a professional hitman in his navy suit, silky tie, and dark leather shoes.
“Please don’t ruin my fun,” I plead when his gaze drops to my hands as I shove the magazine into the gun. “I thought you had meetings all day.”
He strips off his fancy jacket. Resting it on the back of a chair, he gets to work unbuttoning his cuffs next. My throat tightens at the sight of his muscled, tattooed arms when he rolls his sleeves up.
“Yeah, Cain,” Rev says, fake pouting. “Thought you had meetings.”
In a smooth move, he positions himself between me and Rev. “I’m learning to offload. Plenty of employees champing at the bit to prove themselves and earn that corner office.”
With a hand on my lower back, Cain moves me up to the firing line. “Finger off the trigger, Ezra. Check that your safety is off. Good. Now take aim at your target.”
I glance over at Rev who just gives me a wink and heads over to the table to prep his own guns.
Lifting the pistol, I gaze down the steel top and do my best to line up a good shot. Cain adjusts my arms, loosening up my elbows. He squares my shoulders and hips with the target. His hands linger every time he puts them on me.
Having him draped around me really fucking turns me on. Apparently, clutching a dangerous weapon does the same. Yeah, my heart is thudding fast, but not with fear.
Most of my life, I’ve been helpless. At the mercy of evil’s hands, without rights and without means to defend myself.
But right now, I hold all the power.
“Go for it,” Cain says, moving to my side.
The first shot I fire jolts my heart. My arms buzz from absorbing the impact of the explosion, but I don’t break from my position. I’m not even sure what I’m waiting for. Maybe for someone to tell me that I did something right?
“Ezra, baby,” Cain murmurs.
Something flutters around in my chest. I focus on my target, spotting the hole I made in the neck. An absolute rush comes over me. Like that destructive, negative energy churning inside of me was just blasted out of the gun in my hand.
Aiming again, I fire until I run out of bullets, only missing one shot to the head.
When I glance over at Rev, I beam at the surprise in his face. And when I look at Cain, there’s only pride as he gives me a slow smile.
“Huh.” Rev slams a loaded magazine into his gun and cocks it. “Honestly thought you’d be better suited for knives. I wanted to see you go off like a little ninja cat.”
“I like sharp things, too,” I say.
“Oh, kitten. You are trouble,” Rev praises, waggling his eyebrows at Cain.
Cain sighs. “Let’s stick with the basics first. He hasn’t been with us that long.”
“And he’s already showing considerable promise. That bonus check can come anytime.” Rev clips more loaded magazines onto his belt. “Guy was born for this.”
Not true at all.
I was molded. Shaped by experiences I didn’t choose. I was dealt a horrible hand in life, and now I’m going to make sure shitheads that hurt people are wiped from the earth.
“Now that you’ve got a feel for the gun, let’s make some more corrections.” Cain motions me back up to the firing line. “A hard thing to overcome is the urge to grip the shit out of the gun with your dominant hand and control the trigger.”
Again, he moves into my space. I love that he towers over me. I fiddle with my lip ring, allowing him to touch me freely. He rests the handle of the gun between my thumb and index finger on my right hand and helps me wrap my left hand around my right fingers.
“Now, smoothly pull the trigger back until you hit resistance.”
My hands shake as I do, my body bracing for the blast.
“Nothing’s going off until you ease that finger back more, okay? Try again.”
He slips my ear protection over my ears, then steps aside. When I pull the trigger this time, I see the difference proper form makes.
“Holy shit.” I stare at the hole in the target’s forehead. Who knew this could be such a thrill? I’m already obsessed. “Can I do this all the time?”
Cain chuckles. He leans in to press a kiss to the corner of my mouth. “My beautiful, destructive little tornado.”
“God, you two are cute,” Rev says, holding up a gun in each hand.
Flashing a grin, Cain nods me over to the table to reload as Rev shoots up his target. Then he sets me loose again after correcting my posture and grip.
I shoot for hours, not satisfied until I’m able to cluster my shots. My arms quiver from effort, and I take that as my sign to rest. I can’t stop smiling like a fool.
“Hey, pretty boy. Want to watch me slaughter your man in a little friendly shooting competition?” Rev asks.
Sucking down a big gulp of my coffee, I hop up on the edge of the table. “Yes. Yes, I do.”
Cain runs a hand through his hair, which seems to enjoy rebelling against his styling pomade. One lock of dark hair curls over his forehead. It’s obscenely hot.
Rev spins one of his pistols around his hand. “Cain thinks he’s a better shot, but he’s dead wrong.”
“Quit your shit talking and take your fucking shots,” Cain retorts. He cracks his knuckles as he moves to the wall of more intimidating guns, removing what Rev told me was an AR-15 Platform—Cain’s favorite gun.
The way Cain handles it, running his large hands over the black steel, shouldn’t have me burning up on the inside, but I like that he takes time to appreciate details.
“Nope. No way,” Rev calls out. “Handguns only.”
A lethal edge transforms Cain’s face. “Handguns. Then rifles. Fair fight.”
Rev’s smile slips, revealing the cold killer beneath. “Whatever, cowboy.”
Lifting his right pistol, Rev lands a shot between the target’s eyes. He does the same with his left pistol. Back and forth he alternates firing, hitting the same exact spot. My jaw drops in awe of his perfect aim with the seemingly lazy way he’s shooting.
I watch Cain’s confident movements as he steps up to the firing line in another bay. He repeats the pattern. Six shots with his right hand. Then he reloads and shoots the same gun with his left. His body is so fluid, his shots faster than I can even process.
Imagining Cain in action outside of an office setting, dressed in black tactical gear, has me practically drooling. I want to see that so bad.
Rev moves from target to target, and I snap my ear protection off to hear them bickering.
“How is it you fucked up your last mission so badly, but you have near-perfect aim? You lying to me about being in meetings all day?” Rev asks, anger laced in his words.
“What, you think I’m sneaking off and dropping criminals in secrecy?”
Rev shrugs. “Wouldn’t put it past you. Ezra, come determine the winner, please.”
I rush over to study both targets, amazed by the consistent, clean pattern on both pieces of paper. “I really can’t tell. I think it’s a tie.”
Rev growls, pretending to melt into the floor. “This is fucking bullshit. Pistols are my thing.”
“Weapons, in general, are both of our thing. Now pick up that rifle,” Cain demands with an unsettling grin that makes a shiver run down my spine. I’ve never wanted the weight of his body on me more.
Rev does as he says, and I perch on the table again, securing my ear protection. The targets are moved back to the seventy-five feet marker. Rev takes his time, lining up his shot through the scope. He fires several times before moving aside for Cain to take position.
Cain unloads his magazine, and once again I’m ordered to the firing line to determine the winner. Before I can even push the words out, Rev mumbles, “Fucking ex-Special Forces bastard.”
My brows lift as I look over at Cain, soaking in his lethal body. I knew he was in the military, but Special Forces? What had Cain been exposed to during his service? Probably doesn’t make for easy small talk.
Rev drops his gun on the table and jabs a finger at my chest. “I expect to see you in the gym tomorrow during lunch.”
Shrinking under his unhinged intensity, I nod. “Wouldn’t miss it.”
Rev strides out of the room, and Cain retrieves his suit jacket. “Not sure how late I’ll be this evening. Order in food, if you want. My credit card’s on the kitchen table.”
He leaves me then, too. Ok, so he’s still hot and cold. I really shouldn’t have expected anything more.
Sighing, I check the wall clock. Three hours to kill and a seemingly endless supply of ammunition at my disposal. Maybe this night is salvageable.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CAIN
The crack of a gun lurches me upright in bed. Instinct has me grabbing for my own weapon tucked in the drawer of my nightstand. My other hand reaches for Ezra and finds a cold, empty pillow.
No.
“Ezra?” I shout, ripping the sheets off the bed, willing my eyes to adjust to the darkness. Once they do, I spot him curled up near the end of the bed. Air whooshes from my lungs.
Ezra sits up, blinking and rubbing a hand through his mess of hair. “What’s wrong?”
His hazel eyes meet mine, widening when they drop to the gun clutched in my hand.
Coated in a sheen of icy sweat, I’m still panting, though the wave of terror has receded.
“Fuck,” I utter, ruffling my hair. “Just a dream.”
His shocked eyes move from the gun back up to my face.
“Cain,” he murmurs, his features scrunching up. “Are you… oh, no. No, no, no.”
He crawls over to my side of the bed to straddle me. Stroking his fingers down my tattooed arms, he eases the gun out of my hand. Before he places it on my nightstand, he checks the safety.
All the while, I’m unable to move. The urge to tell him to go back to sleep sticks in my mouth. My tongue is swollen, my body limp like my bones have been excavated from muscle and flesh.
He tries to push me down flat on the bed, but I keep my back plastered to the headboard, not ready to slip into sleep knowing what my brain will make me see again, too many bodies for one man to have claimed without sacrificing his soul.
Ezra brushes locks of hair from my sticky forehead. He swipes at the dampness along my cheeks. Brows furrowing, I touch a hand to my cheek and find them wet with tears.
Ezra pets me for a while until my adrenaline drains.
“I thought that you… I thought I hurt…” I sigh, giving in to the smooth touch of his hands all over my skin. The comforting weight of him on top of me. “It doesn’t matter. You’re safe.”
“I am,” Ezra confirms. “Always safe with you.”
I kiss his perfect mouth, wondering how he can walk through this world with such enviable lightness when he’s experienced horrendous abuse.
I’m going to pick Gabriel apart like a vulture. And whoever is actually pulling the strings on this fucked up operation? Yeah, I’m going to spend some quality time introducing them to pain before I claim their soul, too. Add it to my fucking collection.
Sensing my rising anger, Ezra cups my face in his hands. He tips my head until our lips meet for a delicate kiss.
“You are so brave,” I whisper, kissing him over and over again. “So incredibly strong.”
Ezra’s slow smile is everything. It moves the scar I cut into his face higher, and I brush my thumb over it. “I hate that I did that to you.”
He wraps his hand around my wrist. “I don’t. It’s proof that this was real when you decide I’m not good enough for you and kick me out.”
My face twists up, those fucking tears still leaking out of me. How long has it been since I’ve cried? Since Aiden’s death? Did I even cry then, or was I still too angry over his betrayal?
“Baby, I need you to do something for me, okay?” I say.
He nods eagerly, running his soft hands over my brows and along my jawline. His touch is everywhere, like he can’t get enough of me. Like he’s trying to memorize the shape of me.
“Isaac wants to meet with you. Regularly. And I want that, too,” I explain, praying he doesn’t fight me on this.
Isaac told me he’d talked to Ezra about his position at Sinro, but he hadn’t approached the topic of offering services just yet.
Ezra fiddles with his lip ring, his hands sliding down to trace circles over my bare chest. “You think he can straighten me out?”
I pinch his little piercing between my fingers, moving the ball back into his mouth. “He makes living a hell of a lot easier.”
Ezra cocks his head to the side. “To repeat your earlier words at my demand, no promises. But I will try. He seems nice enough.”
When he snuggles into my chest, I pull the sheet up over our entwined bodies. I keep one arm draped over his waist and the other buried in his hair.
I had no choice in the matter of getting tangled up in Ezra. His chaotic nature sucked me in, and I know I won’t ever be able to escape him. I am changed at the very center of my being.
Altered.
And it fucking terrifies me. There’s always that chance of losing him, just like I lost Aiden.
Which is why I’m going to do my best to make Ezra bulletproof. I’m going to turn him into a fucking threat, mentally and physically. No one, not even me, will be able to break him.
