Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Riot

I’m a mess of emotions, swinging between rage and despair as I pace the tiny cell. The walls seem to be closing in on me, the shadows mocking my brief taste of freedom. Bitter memories of a decade spent caged like an animal claw at my mind, threatening to drag me back into that dark hole.

My fists clench as I turn, the sound of my footsteps on the concrete floor the only noise in this stifling space. I can feel the anger simmering beneath my skin, a rage yearning to be unleashed. But there’s something else, too, a strange tightening in my chest that I can’t quite identify.

It feels like…longing.

But for what?

I don’t understand it.

The harsh scrape of the door being unlocked snaps my head around. Elation washes over me as Raura steps inside, her red-gold hair tousled and her eyes shining with determination.

Thank God!

Something eases in me at the sight of her; again, I can’t figure out the feeling. But the strange emotion intensifies, throbbing through me with a force that leaves me breathless. It’s as if a part of me that had been ripped away is whole again.

“Riot!” She hurries over to me, throwing her arms around me, then pulling back to look up into my face. “Are you alright?” Her hands move up and down my arms as if she’s trying to check that I’m in one piece. “I nearly lost my mind with worry.”

“I’m fine.” I stand still, allowing her warmth to seep into me.

She’s here. Everything’s going to be okay.

“I’m so sorry that happened.” Her words are hurried, urgent. “I feel awful. After all the good things I told you about this place…” She gnaws on her lip. “God, how will you ever forgive me?”

“It’s not your fault.” I stare down at her, drinking her in. Does she really believe I could ever be angry with her?

“Jagger’s agreed to let you stay with me,” she says. “At least until we can figure things out.”

I bristle at the mention of Jagger’s name, my jaw clenching. “That arrogant prick has no right to dictate where I go.”

Raura’s hand tightens on my arm. “I know, but you have to understand, this is a difficult situation for him…all of them. They don’t know you, Riot. They’re just trying to protect their own.”

I want to argue, to lash out at the injustice of it all, but her touch calms me, the fire in my veins simmering down. She’s right, of course. I’m the outsider here, the unknown intruder.

“Once things settle, I’ll take you to see Jagger,” she continues. “We can make plans to save your sister then. I’m certain he’ll get the pack behind us so we can get to her before it’s too late.”

Her conviction is almost tangible, and a part of me wants to believe, to embrace the possibility of finally getting my sister free from Parker’s threat.

It won’t be that easy.

It’s never that easy.

I cup her cheek and smile gently. “Of course we will,” I tell her, wishing I felt as confident as I sound. Her eyes are huge as she stares up at me, and it makes my heart hurt.

“For now, let’s get back to my place,” she says. “We’ll get cleaned up, get some rest. Things will look clearer after that.”

Part of me feels the strong urge to leave here at once, to find Willow and save her. But I know there’s not much I can do right now. So, I nod silently, allowing her to lead me out of the cell block and into a narrow street outside. We pass the parking area where the SUV still stands, ignoring curious stares as we make our way through a maze of passages and walkways.

I follow Raura silently, my eyes taking in the sights around me. This place is so different from the sterile, industrial environment of the Enclave – there’s life and color everywhere I look, even though it’s clear that this is where the security headquarters are located.

“I really am so sorry about what happened back there,” Raura says again, her voice laced with guilt. “I never imagined things would go so horribly wrong.”

I shake my head, reaching out to squeeze her hand reassuringly. “Don’t apologize. You did nothing wrong.”

She offers me a small smile, but the worry doesn’t leave her eyes. “I just…I wanted you to see how wonderful this place is. How accepting and warm everyone can be.” She gestures around us as we exit the stark security barracks and head down into what appears to be the main part of the town. “Like this little shopping area here,” she gestures, “there are always vendors selling their wares, music playing, people just hanging out and enjoying each other’s company.”

I nod silently, taking in the quaint storefronts and bright awnings lining the street. It’s charming in a way I haven’t experienced in so long. Peaceful.

“And over there is the gathering hall where everyone gets together for events and meetings,” Raura continues, pointing out a large building up ahead. Her nervousness seems to be fading as she falls into the familiar role of tour guide. “Oh, and you’ll love the gardens! They’re just beautiful in spring and summer.”

I can’t help the small smile that tugs at my lips as I listen to her chatter on. She’s so vibrant, so full of life and passion for this place. A stark contrast to the hardened, cynical man I’ve become over the years.

Before long, we reach what I assume is her home – a cozy apartment tucked above one of the shops. Raura pushes open the door, and I follow her inside, my eyes roaming over the space. It’s bright and airy, with colorful artwork on the walls and plush rugs covering the hardwood floors. So different from the cold, clinical cell I’d been kept in at the Enclave.

I turn to face Raura, and she’s watching me with those big, soulful eyes. For a moment, neither of us speaks. I’m content to simply soak in her presence, to revel in the fact that we’re here, together, away from that nightmare…

“I need to clean up those wounds,” she suddenly says, grazing a hand over my chest. For the first time, I’m aware of my torn shirt where blood has caked the fabric.

“It’s okay.” I touch her hand. “It’s already healed. Besides, you’ve played nursemaid more than enough.”

“I like it.” She nips her plump bottom lip between her teeth. “Not when you get hurt. But…but I like taking care of you.”

I stare at her for a moment. Maybe that’s what this feeling is. The sense of being cared for. “I like it when you do.” My voice has gone hoarse. Once again, we’re staring at each other in silence. My eyes drop to her mouth.

And then, somehow, I’m kissing her.

Tenderly at first, my lips moving slowly, reverently against hers. It’s as if a dam has burst within me, unleashing a torrent of emotions I’ve kept locked away for far too long. My hands thread through her silky hair, cradling her head as I angle my mouth over hers, deepening the kiss.

Raura’s arms twine around my neck, her body molding against mine as if she was made to fit there. I can taste the sweetness of her breath mingling with mine, can smell the wild scent of her skin. It’s overwhelming, this bone-deep connection I feel to her in this moment.

I pour everything into the kiss – the anguish of the last decade, the fury, the hopelessness…and the tiny flicker of light that she’s rekindled within me. It’s as if she’s breathing life back into my battered soul, making me feel whole in a way I haven’t in years.

When we finally pull apart, I’m trembling, overwhelmed by the intensity of what just passed between us. Raura’s eyes are wide, her lips parted on a soft exhale. She blinks up at me slowly.

“Riot…” she whispers, my name an awed breath on her lips. She doesn’t say more. There’s no need for more words now.

I lift her into my arms, and her legs instinctively wrap around my waist as I scoop her up. She moves her mouth to my neck, kissing and nipping at the sensitive skin as I carry her.

Desire lances through me, a sharp, aching need that seems to burn away the remnants of doubt and self-loathing. All I know in this moment is Raura, the scent of her, the feel of her against me.

In the center of the living room, I set her down on the deep rug, my eyes devouring her as I slowly peel away her clothes. It’s like unwrapping a precious gift, and I’m intent on savoring every inch of skin that’s revealed.

With gentle fingers, I slip her shirt over her head, letting it fall carelessly to the floor. My eyes roam over her, taking in the delicate curve of her neck, the swell of her breasts, the dip of her waist. I reach for the button of her jeans, my breath catching as I slide the zipper down.

I peel the denim over her hips and down her legs, sliding the pants past her feet and tossing them aside. I sink back onto my knees, then lower my gaze, my heart pounding as I take in the smooth lines of her hips, the curve of her thighs, the triangle of downy gold hair between them.

Fuck. She’s perfection.

“And now you,” she whispers, reaching out to me, fumbling with my shirt. I put my hand over hers to stop it, then take over, unbuttoning the thick flannel and removing it before shucking out of the ridiculous overalls. Kneeling here naked before her, I feel awkward, self-conscious. These scars that mar my body, the marks of countless battles, seem to shine out at me, branding me as some sort of monster.

But her eyes…they gleam with something like wonder as she traces the contours of my body. She sits up, placing her hand over my heart, then slowly dragging her fingers down my chest, following the path of a particularly nasty scar.

“You’re so beautiful,” she breathes, her voice awed. “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

Her words suck the wind from me. I’m stunned into silence, unable to find a response. My fingers move to her hair, tangling in the soft strands as I search her eyes, trying to convey what I can’t bring myself to say.

“How can you possibly see beauty here?” I ask eventually, my voice hoarse, raw. “All this… it’s just scars. Reminders of the things I’ve done.”

She moves closer, her fingers tracing the contours of my biceps, the hard lines of my body. “I see a man who’s strong. Who’s survived hell and held onto his humanity.” Her eyes meet mine, and I get lost in the warmth of her gaze. “A man who makes me feel protected and cherished, even when he’s unsure of himself.”

I pull her close, my arms banded around her, my face buried in her hair. In this moment, I want to memorize this feeling of belonging, of being cherished. For so long, I’ve been numb, dead inside. But with Raura, I feel like I’m coming back to life.

Don’t get used to it.

The uninvited thought makes me stiffen.

“What’s wrong?” she asks, leaning back a little.

“Nothing,” I murmur, putting a hand on her shoulder and easing her back onto the rug. She stares up at me, looking like some kind of an angel with her hair splayed out around her face, a rose-tinted halo. With our eyes locked, I trace my fingertips down from the small indentation at the base of her throat to the valley of flesh between her breasts. She sucks in a breath when I draw small circles around each nipple, watching as they pucker tautly before trailing my hand down past her ribcage. Her breath comes faster, her chest rising and falling quickly as I sweep my palm over her belly and cup her mound.

“Oh!” The sound comes out in a soft gasp as my fingers slide along the line of her slit. Shifting, I get between her smooth thighs, spreading them as I stroke the creamy flesh there.

Her head tips back, and I look at her, watching her bite her lip and hearing her whimpers of need. The sweet, heady scent of her excitement fills my head, arousing me. I can’t get enough of her – the way she looks, the sounds she makes, the way she moves. All of it is like a drug to me. And I need more.

Leaning down, I place a kiss at the apex of her thighs, feeling the soft down on my lips and inhaling her unique, feminine musk. Her taste is addictive, and I lick along the seam of her pussy, making her buck beneath me. Her hands graze over my head, holding me to her as I tease my tongue along her slick flesh, reveling in her moans and the way her hips push against my mouth.

“Oh, please!” she gasps out, writhing beneath me. “Riot, I need…”

“I know what you need, beautiful,” I murmur against her.

And then I slide a finger inside her, bending my head to take her clit into my mouth at the same time. Her slick heat envelops me, and I groan, the vibrations making her cry out. Her walls clench around my finger as I curl it, searching for that one sweet spot that will drive her wild.

There.

“Oh! My! God!” she chokes out, her hips thrusting up, my nose pressing into the silky fur covering her mound.

I latch onto her clit with my mouth, thrusting my finger in and out of her as I suck, lick, and nibble, losing myself in the taste of her. She tastes so fucking good – sweet and musky and utterly addictive.

“Oh, God, Riot! Yesss…” She’s panting now, her hips moving restlessly as her moans fill the room. Her walls flutter around my finger, and I know she’s close. Sliding a second finger into her, I draw down on the throbbing bundle of nerves in my mouth, tongue swirly over it wetly.

That does it. Her eyes squeeze shut, and her back arches off the floor.

“Riot! Oh God…yes…fuck!” She keeps crying out my name, her body shuddering through her release. Her juices coat my tongue, and I lap at her greedily, wanting to savor every part of her.

When her spasms finally subside, I release her and lean back on my heels, watching her. Her chest is heaving as she stares at me, her eyes shining. I give her a crooked smile, then slide up her body, covering her with mine and caging her with my arms.

“You’re so goddamned beautiful,” I whisper. Her lips are parted, breath still coming in short gasps as she gazes up at me with eyes darkened by dilated pupils.

“And you’re freaking amazing,” she exhales the words breathlessly. She reaches up to cup my face. “I want to feel you inside me.”

I hover over her, eyes moving over her face, breathing her in.

This woman…

I can’t get enough of her. It’s like she’s awakened something inside me, something I thought had died long ago. I know I’ve been damaged by the last decade. Brutalized. Maybe I’ll never be truly whole again. But now, with Raura’s soft curves pressed against me, I feel alive. Worthy. Like I might just have a future, after all.

But it’s a future I have no right to.

All I have is this moment.